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

Habitat: Coastal, damp sandy ground, dunes, and salt marsh margins.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Rhizomatous perennial, 3-14 dm, rhizome long and creeping, stems erect and 1-3 mm in diameter, cataphylls several.

Leaves basal; sheaths dark brown, shiny, loose; blades absent.

Lateral cymes, 3-many-flowered; primary bract erect and appearing to be a continuation of the stem; bracteoles 2, membranous, at base of perianth.

Pedicellate; tepals green with brown margins, lanceolate, 5-8 mm, inner whorl loosely subtending capsule at maturity and typically slightly shorter with scarious to clear margins; stamens 6, filament 0.2-1.1 mm, anthers 0.9-2.3 mm; style 1-1.5mm.

Capsules 3-chambered, oblate to narrowly ovoid, 4-7 mm, shorter than or nearly equal to perianth; seeds dark reddish orange, oblate to ellipsoid, 0.4-0.7 mm.