Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Disturbed ground, lawns and gardens

Flowers: March-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Stiff-hairy, glandular biennial or perennial, the stems sprawling but the flowering stems erect, 2-4 dm. tall.

Leaves of the prostrate stems opposite, crowded, oblanceolate, 10-25 mm. long and 2-5 mm. broad; leaves of the flowering stems opposite, widely spaced, up to 4 cm. long and 15 mm. broad.

Flowers several in an open, dichotomously branched inflorescence; sepals 5, 4-7 mm. long, stiff-hairy; petals 5, white, bi-lobed, equaling the sepals; stamens 10; styles 5.

Capsule membranous, cylindric, slightly curved, twice as long as the sepals, opening by 10 teeth.