Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.

Habitat: Mud flats, vernal pools.

Flowers: June-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Review Group 1 in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies

Subglabrous, pale-greenish annual, the stem simple or branched from the base and spreading, 1-3 dm. tall.

Leaves alternate, numerous, lanceolate, 5-18 mm. long and 3-6 mm. wide, denticulate, sessile.

Flowers crowded in terminal spikes, with floral bracts similar to the leaves; calyx 4-lobed; petals 4, pale pink to reddish-purple, 2-4 mm. long, deeply bilobed; ovary inferior, 4-celled; stamens 8, of two lengths.

Capsule slightly curved, pointed but not beaked, about 7 mm. long and 1-1.5 mm. thick; seeds brownish.