Lax, usually dioecious perennial, sometimes forming loose mats; stems to more than 1 m long, rooting at nodes, often ascending, to c. 40 cm high, plant moderately to densely hirsute, hairs reflexed. Leaf-lamina entire, c. circular to cordate or reniform, slightly discolorous, 8–50 mm across, shallowly 5–11-lobed, margins crenate; petiole c. 1–13(–24) cm long; stipules papery, entire. Umbels simple, leaf-opposed, globose, 5–16 mm diam., c. 30–50-flowered; peduncle 2–7 cm long. Flowers usually unisexual, sometimes bisexual, with an offensive, putrid odour; female flowers with pedicels 0.5–6 mm long, petals deciduous, often adhering to each other and forming a cap, stamens rudimentary; male flowers with pedicels 5–8 mm long, petals pale green to white, spreading, stamens exserted. Fruits 1.5–2 mm long, 1.8–2.5 mm wide, smooth, granular or sometimes with few hairs; mericarps with obtuse dorsal rib, lateral ones prominent. Flowers spring–autumn.
LoM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Widespread in forest, woodland and grasslands, usually in fairly open, dryish to slightly moist, often rocky sites, and often colonizing bare and disturbed areas.
