HABIT	AN ERECT OR PROCUMBENT, ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL HERB WITH SPREADING BRANCHES, USUALLY UP TO 1M TALL, OFTEN WITH A WOODY BASE.
STEMS	ANGULAR, RIBBED, PUBESCENT, SIMPLE ORBRANCHED FROM THE BASE, OFTEN REDDISHPURPLISH TINGED.
LEAVES	OPPOSITE, THICK, OVATE ELLIPTIC OR OBOVATEROUNDED, BUT VARIABLE IN SHAPE AND SIZE, 4-12 CM LONG AND UP TO 8 CM WIDE, VELVETYTOMENTOSE.
FLOWERS	GREENISH-WHITE, NUMEROUS, IN AXILLARY OR TERMINAL SPIKES UP TO 75 CM LONG; BRACTS MEMBRANOUS, OBLONG, ENCLOSED IN THE HARDENED PARIANTH.
FRUITS	UTRICLE, OBLONG-CYLINDRIC, TRUNCATE AT APEX, ROUNDED AT BASE.
SEEDS	REDDISH-BROWN, SUB CYLINDRICAL.