Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains; also in eastern North America.

Habitat: Riparian zones and adjacent fields; tolerant of alkaline.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Monoecious, weedy annuals, the stem erect, branching from the base, 5-15 dm. tall.

Leaves alternate except the lower cauline; petioles 2-3 cm. long; leaf blades triangular to lance-triangular, green on both sides, 30-120 mm. long and 12-90 mm. wide, usually hastate, the margins entire or irregularly dentate.

Flowers in terminal or axillary panicles 6-25 cm. tall; staminate flowers with 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens; pistillate flowers dimorphic, lacking a perianth, the pistil naked, enclosed with a pair of leafy bracteoles; stigmas 2.

Fruiting bracteoles ovate, of 2 sizes; larger ones 5-6 x 5 mm., smaller ones 2 x 2 mm. Seeds of larger bracteoles yellowish brown, of smaller bracteoles, black.