E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

General:
Annual or biennial herb from a taproot; stems erect, solitary, freely branched, somewhat pimply and finely hairy, 20-60 cm tall.

Leaves:
Basal leaves reduced or lacking; stem leaves alternate, narrowly oblong to lanceolate, the margins somewhat crisped, usually slightly hairy beneath, the blades 4-10 cm long, reduced upward, the stalks short.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers in tight whorls in a large and leafy panicle, golden brown at maturity; flower stalks jointed near the base; perianth segments 1-2 mm long at flowering, the outer segments enlarging to 3-7 mm long including the long-tapering, sharp tips, each segment with 2-4 slender teeth 2-5 mm long and also usually with a prominent, narrow, grain-like swelling.

Fruits:
Achenes brown, smooth, shiny, 1.5-2 mm long.