Summer annual, reaching 3-9 feet in height. Leaves and stems covered with short, stiff hairs that often stick to clothing.
Leaves occur on petioles and stipules occur where the petiole meets the stem.
Occur near the top of plants as racemes or branched panicles. Each segment encloses a seed and is densely covered with short, stiff hairs that stick to clothing. Distinctive segmented fruit that sticks to clothing, hairy leaves and stems, and presence of stipules are all features that aide in the identification of this weed.