Annual to 2 m tall, stems erect, green-striped, sometimes red especially in axils, branched mostly basally, lowermost branches long, ascending from an almost horizontal base. Leaf blade dark olive green to glaucous green above, glaucous green below, sometimes red-rimmed, ca. 2 x length of petiole, (1.5-)2-5 x (0.6-)1-2.5 cm, ovate to elliptic, somewhat attenuate towards apex, margins often almost parallel in middle part; margins ± regularly toothed, teeth small, sometimes with a pair of somewhat larger teeth at broadest part of blade, or sometimes margins entire; apex rounded. Blade of upper leaves (rarely all leaves) narrowly trullate to narrowly elliptic, margin entire. Flowers concentrated in small glomerules mostly arranged in terminal and usually spiciform branched inflorescence. Perianth lobes olive green, united at base, keel not prominent. Fruits mostly falling with perianth. Pericarp easily detached. Seeds horizontal, black, lustrous, 0.9-1.1(-1.2) mm in diameter, ovate; testa almost smooth to sometimes with faint radial striae.