Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Great Plains, also in eastern North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, shores, pastures, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas.

Flowers: June - August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia and North Africa

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Herbaceous perennial from a branched, woody base, the flowering, leafy stems 2-6 dm. tall.

Basal leaves several, pinnate, the leaflets 9-17, oval, 1-2 cm. long, coarsely serrate; cauline leaves reduced but with leaf-like stipules.

Inflorescence of ovoid, dense spikes on long peduncles, 8-20 mm. long, each flower subtended by a papery, ovate bract and 2 lateral bractlets; flowers mostly imperfect, the lower ones staminate, the upper ones pistillate; calyx urn-shaped, greenish to rose-tinged, the 4 lobes broad, spreading and petal-like; petals none; stamens about 12, pistils 2.

Fruiting calyx 4-5 mm. long, woody and warty.