An erect to decumbent annual, up to 45 cm tall. Stem glabrous to pilose. Leaves 2.5-7 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad; lower leaves entire, lanceolate to elliptic, the upper ternate, with a large median lobe; midrib and veins pilose. Flowers fragrant, yellowish-white, in axillary and terminal racemes, up to 50 cm long; bracts c. 3 mm long, linear. Pedicel 6-7 mm long. Sepals 2-3 mm long, lanceolate to subulate, unequal. Posterior petal 9-13-lobed; appendage c. the size of the petal or larger, suborbiculate, margin fimbriate. Capsule subglobose. Seeds black, glaucous.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Type: Described from Egypt, Hb. Linn. 629/28 (LINN).

Distribution: A native of N. Africa and naturalised in E. & C. Europe.

Commonly known as “sweet mignonette” and cultivated for its strongly fragrant flowers. Several varieties are recognised. The plant parts are used for the alleviation of pain and relief from irritation. It yields an oil which is used for the manufacture of cosmetics.