Annual; stem winged, often branched from the base, to 1 m; stipules lanceolate, with a short basal lobe; lfls lance-linear, 2-5 cm; peduncles 3-10 cm, with 1-3 violet to pink or white fls 1-1.5 cm; cal-lobes ovate or lance-ovate, subequal, 2.5-3.5 mm, acuminate, about equaling the tube; fr 2-5 cm, papillose-hirsute, 5-10-seeded; 2n=14. Native of Europe, intr. in se. Va. and at scattered stations in s. U.S.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.