It is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, growing to 1.2 m tall, irregularly branched, with oblong-lanceolate leaves up to 12 cm long.
The flowers are small and green, produced in a branched panicle at the apex of the stem.
As well as in its native areas, it is grown in warm temperate to subtropical areas of Europe and the United States.
Epazote is used as a leaf vegetable and herb for its pungent flavor.
Raw, it has a resinous, medicinal pungency, similar to anise, fennel, or even tarragon, but stronger.
Epazote's fragrance is strong but difficult to describe.
It has been compared to citrus, petroleum, savory, mint and camphor.
Although it is traditionally used with black beans for flavor and its carminative properties, it is also sometimes used to flavor other traditional Mexican dishes as well.
Epazote is commonly believed to prevent flatulence caused by eating beans and is therefore used to season them.
It is also used in the treatment of amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, malaria, chorea, hysteria, catarrh and asthma.