Erect annual herb to c. 2 m high; stems densely hairy, hairs spreading to antrorse. Ochreas pubescent, the upper part expanded into a firm green limb. Leaves ± ovate, 6–22 cm long, 35–120 mm wide, both surfaces with scattered hairs and sessile glands; petiole 20–110 mm long. Inflorescence cylindric, dense, 3.5–8 cm long, 5–10 mm diam., peduncle 9–18 cm long; perianth segments 2.5–4.5 mm long, pale pink, free almost to base. Nut ± lenticular, 2–3 mm long and wide, brown to black. Flowers Mar.–May (3 records).
GleP, VVP, GipP, EGL, Strz. Also WA (naturalised), NT, SA (naturalised), Qld, NSW. Native to Asia and mostly northern Australia.
Sometimes grown as a garden plant and occasionally persisting in old gardens or from dumped garden refuse.
