[3] It is native to parts of Europe and it is known elsewhere, such as North America, as an introduced species and a common weed.

It is an annual herb producing a slender, branching, rough-haired stem up to a meter in maximum height.

The alternately arranged leaves are each divided into several pairs of lance-shaped leaflets up to 6 centimeters long each.

The inflorescence is a wide open compound umbel of flower clusters on long, slender rays.

Each greenish or pinkish fruit is 3 to 5 millimeters long and is coated in straight or curving prickles.