Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and along the Columbia River in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to Idaho, east across the southwestern U.S. and southern Great Plains to eastern North America; also occurring in New World Tropics and Eurasia.

Habitat: Lakes, marshes, peatlands, shores, and wet meadows.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Glabrous, succulent perennial, the stems prostrate, rooting at the nodes. Leaves: Leaves opposite, entire, 2-6 cm. long, the blades ovate-elliptic to obovate, tapered gradually to broad petioles nearly as long.

Leaves opposite, entire, 2-6 cm. long, the blades ovate-elliptic to obovate, tapered gradually to broad petioles nearly as long.

Flowers sessile in the upper leaf axils, greenish, 2 mm. long; sepals 4, ovate, persistent in fruit; petals lacking; stamens 4, opposite the sepals, the filaments very short; stigma capitate; ovary inferior, 4-celled.

Capsule top-shaped, 2.5-4 mm. long, with 2 tiny, lateral bracteoles about half as long.