It is native to the Americas but it can be found on most continents as an introduced species and often a weed.

[2] This is an annual herb forming a mat of prostrate stems which root at nodes where the stem comes in contact with the ground.

The oval leaves occur in oppositely arranged pairs, each leaf less than a centimeter long.

The inflorescence is a cyathium with scalloped white petal-like appendages surrounding the actual flowers.

A red nectar gland is at the base of each appendage, and at the center of the cyathium are several male flowers around one female flower.