Distribution: Occurring along the Columbia River and east of the Cascades in Washington; southwestern Washington to northern Oregon, east to west-central Idaho; also in southwestern British Columbia.

Habitat: Dunes and sandy shorelines of desert areas and riverbanks.

Flowers: August-October

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Spreading-erect annual, freely-branched especially near the base, the stems up to 6 dm. tall, often reddish-tinged, the herbage often covered with stiff, stellate hairs.

Leaves alternate, entire, linear to linear-lanceolate, 1-5 cm. long and up to 4 mm. broad, tipped with a sharp point, narrowed to short petioles.

Plant floriferous nearly throughout; flowers in short, axillary, crowded, bracteate spikes 1-3 cm. long and 4-6 mm. thick; bracts lanceolate below, broader above, 5-9 mm. long; perianth a single, papery scale opposite the bract; stamens 3-5, exerted; styles 2.

Fruit obovate to orbicular, 3-4 mm. long, strongly flattened and winged.