Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Noxious weed of disturbed soils

Flowers: May-June

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, wasps

Perennial from sturdy rhizomes, the stems 2-9 dm. tall, erect, simple below but freely and umbellately branched above, glaucous and usually glabrous.

The main cauline leaves alternate, oblong to linear-oblanceolate, entire, 2-6 cm. long and 2-8 mm. broad, sessile; lower leaves scale-like; floral leaves very broadly cordate-ovate, 12-16 mm. long.

Inflorescence of terminal cymes on the branches; flowers tiny, monoecious, borne in involucres; staminate flowers numerous, naked, each consisting of a single stamen; pistillate flower single and terminal in the involucre; involucres 2-3 mm. long, bearing 4 brownish-green glands with short, divergent horns.

Capsule nearly smooth, separating into three 1-seeded segments.