Distribution
Afghanistan (introduced), Albania (introduced), Algeria (introduced), Angola (introduced), Austria (introduced), Bahamas (introduced), Belgium (introduced), Benin (introduced), Botswana (introduced), Bulgaria (introduced), Cambodia (introduced), Cameroon (introduced), Cape Verde (introduced), Chad (introduced), Comoros (introduced), Congo (introduced), Cuba (introduced), Cyprus (introduced), Denmark (introduced), Dominican Republic (introduced), Egypt (introduced), Ethiopia (introduced), Finland (introduced), France (introduced), Gabon (introduced), Gambia (introduced), Germany (introduced), Ghana (introduced), Greece (introduced), Guinea (introduced), Hungary (introduced), India (introduced), Iran (introduced), Iraq (introduced), Ireland (introduced), Italy (introduced), Ivory Coast (introduced), Japan (introduced), Kenya (introduced), Laos (introduced), Lesotho (introduced), Liberia (introduced), Libya (introduced), Malawi (introduced), Mali (introduced), Mauritius (introduced), Morocco (introduced), Namibia (introduced), Nepal (introduced), Nigeria (introduced), Norway (introduced), Oman (introduced), Pakistan (introduced), Poland (introduced), Portugal (introduced), Reunion (introduced), Romania (introduced), Rwanda (introduced), Saudi Arabia (introduced), Senegal (introduced), Sierra Leone (introduced), Spain (introduced), Sri Lanka (introduced), Sudan (introduced), Swaziland (introduced), Sweden (introduced), Switzerland (introduced), Tanzania (introduced), Thailand (introduced), Togo (introduced), Tunisia (introduced), Turkey (introduced), Uganda (introduced), Ukraine (introduced), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (introduced), Vietnam (introduced), Yemen (introduced), Zambia (introduced), Zimbabwe (introduced)

Plants glabrous or glabrescent, or distal parts of stem and branches slightly pubescent when young. Stems erect, green or sometimes reddish purple, rarely under-developed plants ascending, branched to nearly simple, 0.3-2(-2.5) m. Leaves: petiole 1/2 as long as to equaling blade; blade ovate, rhombic-ovate, or lanceolate, (2-)4-15 × (1-)2-6 cm, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, with mucro. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, erect or reflexed, occasionally nodding, green or olive green, occasionally with silvery or reddish purple tint, leafless at least distally, terrminal inflorescence often slightly nodding with numerous shorter branches at base. Bracts lanceolate-linear to subulate, 2-3.5(-4) mm, subequal to or 2 times as long as tepals }, apex spinescent. Pistillate flowers: tepals 5, lanceolate to lanceolate-linear, subequal or unequal, 1.5-3 mm, membranaceous, apex acute or acuminate, gradually narrowing into aristate tip; style branches erect, shorter than body of fruit; stigmas 3. Staminate flowers at tips of inflorescences; tepals 5; stamens (4-)5. Utricles obovoid or elongate-ovoid, 1.5-2.5 mm, shorter than tepals, smooth proximally, lid verrucose or rugose, dehiscence regularly circumscissile, or rarely in some presumably hybrid forms, irregularly dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds black to dark reddish brown, lenticular to lenticular-globose, 1-1.3 mm, smooth, shiny.
Flowering summer-fall. Waste places, agricultural and fallow fields, railroads, roadsides, riverbanks, other disturbed habitats; 0-2500 m.