Erect summer annual that may reach 16 feet in height. Primarily a weed of agronomic crops that thrives in fertile soils. Found throughout the U.S. except the Pacific Coast, areas of the Southwest, and portions of Florida and Maine. The first pair of true leaves is unlobed and lanceolate in shape, with toothed margins. Erect, freely branched, hairy.
Individual flowers are small and greenish.
However, the leaves of cocklebur are alternate.