Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.

Habitat: Shores, wet meadows, seeps, vernal pools, ditches.

Flowers: April-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Fibrous-rooted annual, the several stems 5-20 cm. tall, dichotomous, often with flowers nearly to the base.

Leaves alternate, the blades linear, flat to involute, about 1 mm. broad and 0.5-10 cm. long; leaf bases sheathing, the margins membranous.

Flowers usually single at the nodes, subtended by two translucent bracts 1-2 mm. long; perianth 3-7 mm. long, the 6 segments with membranous margins, acuminate, the outer 3 the longer; stamens 6; style 0.3-1 mm. long.

Capsule subglobose to ovoid, 2-4 mm. long.