It is native to Eurasia, but it can be found throughout much of the temperate world as an introduced species and sometimes a common weed.

[3] It often appears in arable fields, sandy tracks, pits, and docks.

[4] This is a hairy annual or biennial herb producing stems which grow upright or lie along the ground to a maximum length of 30 to 40 centimeters.

[5] It produces yellow flowers May–July that fade to white with four small petals about 1.5–3 mm long.

[7] The leaves are simple, narrowly oblanceolate or linear with smooth margins, and are alternately arranged.