Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, rock crevices, and sandy areas, often where seasonally wet or moist.

Flowers: March-April

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Annual, terrestrial herbs, the stems erect, red in age, simple or often branching, 1-6 cm. tall.

Leaves opposite, sessile, oblong, 1-3 mm. long, acute, tipped with a small, sharp point.

Inflorescences compact, crowded, the flowers 2 per node in the leaf axils; sepals 3, lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm. long, acuminate, tipped with a small, sharp point; petals 3, whitish, narrowly lanceolate, 0.5-1 mm. long, spreading; stamens 3.

Follicles ascending, ovoid, 2-seeded.