A leafy, somewhat spreading annual branched mostly from the base. The narrow leaves are coarsely-toothed along the margins. The flowers have 4 narrow, pale purple petals. The plant is aromatic.
Annual herb with a large taproot; stems leafy, erect or declining with tip ascending; leaves alternate, stalked, lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped, lobed to toothed; flowers of 4 purplish petals, windmill-like.
Habitat
Disturbed areas and cultivated lands.
Flower Characteristics
Flowers have 4 pale purple petals that are a darker pink at their base; borne terminally on a branch, in a loose, branched cluster. Flower bracts 4, purplish, narrow, forming a tube beneath the petals.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves and stems are sparsely to moderately covered with minute gland-tipped hairs; leaves are shallowly lobed to toothed (mostly lower leaves) or wavy, lobes sometimes pointed.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The 1-1/2 inch long, narrow seed pods curve upward, with sharp points.
Seeds many.