Annual herb, erect, aromatic, densely branched, up to 60 cm high.  Leaves pinnatisect, with linear segments; flower capitula 2.5 cm in diameter, on short terminal peduncles; ligules white, emarginate.  Achenes with 3 to 5 ribs, not very apparent.

There are major nomenclature problems with this genus and numerous synonyms exist for this species¹.

Herb or semiwoody monecousshrub, 1-3 m high, with large, tuberous roots.  Leaves alternate, spirally arranged, palmately 3-9 lobed, obovate-lanceolate, 4-20 cm x 1-6 cm, glabrous above and glaucous below, petiole 5-30 cm; inflorescence terminal cymose panicles; female flowers on pedicels 7-12 mm long, calyx lobe 7.5 – 10 mm long, male flowers on pedicels 4-6 mm long, calyx lobes 2-5 mm long, female flowers lower than the male flowers; fruit a dehiscent, globose capsule, 1.5 cm in long; seeds gray mottled,ellipsoid, ca.12 mm long.