Annual herb, 40-80 cm. Stems erect, yellowish brown, branched and sometimes purplish above, with an indumentum, variable in density, of white eglandular hairs. Leaves ovate-elliptic, up to 6 x 3 cm, ± regularly crenate-serrate, cuneate, acute, pilose to vinous, densely gland-dotted abaxially. Petiole up to 2.5 cm. Inflorescence of axillary and terminal spikes, 3-7 x c. 1 cm, white, condensed or verticillasters loose basally. Flowers usually secund, pedicellate. Bracts shortly stalked, broad ovate-circular, abruptly cuspidate with a c. 1 mm apical mucro with long multicellular crisped hairs. Calyx 1.5-2 mm with 5 rather unequal narrow triangular cuspidate teeth; fruiting calyx to c. 4 mm; tube with villous hairs at throat. Corolla palish mauve to pale violet, 2.5-3 mm. Nutlets oblong-ovoid, pale brown, c. 1.1 x 0.6 mm.