Annual or over-wintering herb; stems weak, ascending, diffusely branched at base, to 60 cm long, with a line of white hairs on one side of internode (also along pedicel). Lower leaves petiolate, broadly elliptic to cordate-ovate, (5–)10–30(–40) mm long, (2–)5–10(–15) mm wide, margin occasionally with few hairs near base; upper leaves more or less sessile. Inflorescence a terminal, leafy, monochasium; fruiting pedicel erect or recurved, (5–)10–20(–30) mm long; sepals 4–6 mm long, with white hairs all over or on margin and base only, apex obtuse, margins narrow, membranous; petals 5, from half sepal length to scarcely longer than sepals; stamens 3–5. Capsule 4–6 mm long, 2.5–3.5 mm diam., c. same length as sepals; valves straight or very slightly recurved at apex; seeds 7–13, (0.8–)0.9–1.2(–1.3)mm long, dark reddish-brown, tubercles prominent to medium, rounded and narrow. Flowers Aug.–Feb.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Naturalized all States. Native to Europe. Common and widespread weed of disturbed damp areas.
