A spreading, mat forming almost hairless plant with numerous stolons. Stems square, erect with a ring of hairs at each node. Leaves elliptical in whorls of 6 to 9 edged with tiny forward pointing prickles. Flowers white, 4 to 7 mm in lax heads.

Indicator Species - Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Deciduous woodland and shady places.

Late April to June.

Perennial.

Widespread and fairly frequent in suitable locations throughout most of Britain.

Locally frequent in woodland in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 42 of the 617 tetrads.