An erect up to 2 m tall, glabrescent herb. Stem hard and thick. Leaves; 3-10 cm long, 2-7 cm broad, truncate to shallowly cordate at base, orbicular to semiorbicular, coarsely crenate, 3-5-lobed; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 3-6 mm long, 2-3 mm broad; petiole 4-12.5 cm long, densely hairy above in the form of a line. Flowers in axillary fascicles of (4-) 5-15; pedicel 1-1.5 cm long, in fruit up to 2.5 cm. Epicalyx segments ovate-lanceolate to ovate or oblong, 3-4 mm long c. 2 mm broad. Calyx 5-6 mm long, free to the middle; lobes c. 3 mm broad, triangular; accrescent in fruit. Petals dark pink to purple, 1.5.2.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm broad, retuse, claw hairy. Staminal column c. 5 cm long, stellate; pubescent. Fruit discoid, 5-7 mm across, glabrous; reticulate-wrinkled, mericarps 10-14, 1.5-2 mm across in all directions. Seed 1-1.5 mm long and broad, reniform, blackish-brown.

Holotype: Herb.Linn.870.24 (LINN!).

Distribution: Mediterranean region, W.Europe and Russia. Elsewhere cultivated.

In Pakistan it is occasionally cultivated.