Decumbent to ascending annual or perennial herb to 30 cm high; stems sparsely to densely pubescent, or glabrous. Leaves cauline, subsessile, elliptic, ovate or obovate, 1–4.5 cm long, 4–46 mm wide, glabrous to sparsely hairy on upper surface, softly woolly on lower surface. Inflorescence a globose, ovate or cylindrical spike, sessile within uppermost pair of leaves, 15–40 mm long, 10–15 mm wide, elongating to c. 4 cm long in fruit. Bracteoles ovate, equal to or slightly longer than perianth, midvein shortly crested. Perianth segments white, lanceolate, 4–6 mm long; staminal tube longer than the fruit. Flowers Dec.–Jul.
VRiv, MuF. Also naturalised in all mainland States. Native to South America. Occasional weed of disturbed roadsides in northern Victoria.
