Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in and near coastal marine waters; Alaska to northern Mexico; irregularly cosmopolitan.

Habitat: Fresh or brackish marshes, and beaches, shores, and cliŽs near coast.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted annual with numerous slender stems 3-20 cm. tall.

Leaves few, near the base, variable, sometimes with normal sheath and elongate, slender blade, sometimes the lower leaves reduced to bracts and the upper one with a sheath and very short blade.

Inflorescence a solitary spikelet 2-5.5 mm. long with several perfect flowers, sub-terminal, at an angle to the culm, with a single involucral bract up to 1 cm. long; flowers subtended by scales 1.5-2 mm. long, often purplish, with parallel nerves, the mid-rib greenish or pale; perianth bristles none; stamens 3; style trifid.

Achenes triangular, about 1 mm. long.