Lesser Swinecress is a foul smelling plant. Stems trailing or ascending, multiple from the base, radiating from a central point, from a long taproot, to 30 cm long, herbaceous, smooth, green. Leaves alternate, stalked, pinnate, to 4-5 cm long, 2 cm broad, glabrous. Divisions of the leaves opposite, lobed or divided again, acute, linear-elliptic to linear oblong. Apices of ultimate divisions with a somewhat hardened point. There is a rosette of leaves at the base. Rosette leaves are stalked, 6-10 x 1.5-2 cm; stem leaves smaller, usually pinnately divided, rarely 2-pinnatifid, 1-4 x 0.5-1.5 cm. Small raceme to 4cm long, opposite one of the stem leaves, compact in flower, quickly elongating in fruit. Flowers are greenish, minute. Petals absent. Sepals 4, to 1 mm long, 0.75 mm broad. An objectionable flavor is found in the milk of dairy cattle which graze on pastures infested with Bitter Cress.