Japanese name: クワクサ（桑草） Scientific name:Fatoua villosa
[Overview]
An annual 15–80 cm tall, commonly seen in fields and vacant lots.
The stem is hairy and sometimes tinged with purple.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate, 4–10 cm long, with blunt teeth, and are hairy and rough.
The leaf stalk has stipules that fall early.
There are male and female flowers, both borne mixed together in cymes arising from the leaf axils; they are small and pale green, sometimes tinged with purple.
The male flower has a 4-lobed perianth and 4 stamens, with white anthers.
In the female flower the perianth does not open, and a thread-like, reddish purple style protrudes from the gap.
The fruit is a spherical achene with 3 ridges.
[Notes]
The Japanese name comes from the leaves resembling those of Kuwa.
