The rosette leaves vary in shape from oval to somewhat linear. They can be distinguished from stinkweed rosettes by the presence of a milky sap. Rosettes resume growth very early the following spring. Overwintered seed can also germinate at this time. Figure 1 shows the adult plant and seed.
Plants form a slender, branched, leafy stem that contains a milky juice.
Upper stem leaves are more linear shaped, stalkless and sometimes clasp the stem with small pointed lobes. The small seeds are dark purplish-brown when mature. They have little or no dormancy and are the major means of spread. However, spring tillage may give poor control if the weed has bolted. In direct seeding systems, a herbicide must replace tillage to achieve any control of this weed.