Erect, 30-60 (-75) cm tall, sometimes decumbent or prostrate simple-branched, annual, herb. Stem glabrous, lineolate-canaliculate. Leaves 1.5-15 x 0.25-3.0 cm, linear to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous except margin, midrib and veins ciliate, sessile to subsessile, petiole 2-4 (-6) mm long. Ochrea 1.0-3.5 cm long, tubular, brownish, strigose, cilia equalling or larger than the ochreae. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, many flowered, branched raceme with 1-6 spikes in each raceme, peduncle 0.5-3.0 (-5.0) cm long, glabrous. Flowers white, 1.0-2.0 mm across, pedicel, 0.75-1.5 mm long. Ochreolae 1.5-3.5 mm long, tubular, ovate, compact, not intrerrupted, ciliate, ciliae almost the same size as that of ochreolae. Tepals 5, 1.5-2.5 x 0.75-1.25 cm, oblanceolate-obovate, obtuse, biseriate, unequal, eglandular. Stamens 5-8, filaments long, equal. Ovary 1.0-2.0 x 0.75-1.5 mm, broadly ovate-orbicular, trigonous, styles three, long, filiform and free till half of the length with capitate stigmas. Nuts trigonous, 1.8-2 (-2.25) x 1.2-1.5 mm, glabrous, black, shining.
In our area, following two varieties are recognized:
