This plant is known as either an herb or a weed varies from 10 to 24 inches tall.  Its stems are smooth and slightly red and are known as spreading stems, since they are only occasionally erect and mostly branched.  The leaves are triangular with a straight lower margin and two horizontally projecting ends.  The lower leaves are positioned in opposite pairs.  The flowers are either compact or are interrupted spiciform or paniculiform clusters.  Male staminate flowers are mostly 5-merous.  

It is an annual that flowers from July to September and seeds become ripe a month from the flowering date.  The leaves and seeds can be consumed (too much can cause photosensitivity though), young leaves being a spinach substitute and seeds are used to thicken soups.  When the seeds are ripe, they can function as a laxative.  It has also been used to cure against rheumatism and headaches.

 Originally native to Northern Africa, temperate Asia, and Europe, it became naturalized in North America and is found on disturbed salty or alkaline soils in all of North America except for Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee.  The plant prefers that the soil is moist and direct sunlight (no shade).  It is a very common weed on clays and heavy ground.  It can grow in a PH range of 6 to 9, with an average rainfall of 100 to 300 cm. Typically elevation of growth is between 0 to 1400 meters.