Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed areas.

Flowers: July-October

Origin: Introduced from the southwestern United States and Mexico

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Monoecious, erect, simple to freely-branched annual, the 1-several stems up to 2 m. tall, striate and reddish, usually glabrous below the inflorescence.

Leaves alternate, the blade lanceolate or ovate to deltoid-elliptic, 2-10 cm. long, usually glabrous, narrowed abruptly to petioles about as long.

Flowers numerous in crowded, spike-like, terminal or axillary clusters that are usually compound and up to 15 cm. long, subtended by several linear-lanceolate, spine-tipped bracts 2.5-5 mm. long; sepals somewhat unequal, those of the pistillate flowers about equal to the fruit, 2-3 mm. long, narrowly oblong, acute to obtuse; petals none; stamens usually 3; styles 3.

1-seeded capsule.