Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascade crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Newfoundland, south in eastern North America to Virginia; circumboreal

Habitat: Coastal tideflats and saline areas.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Glabrous perennial herbs from slender rhizomes, the stems prostrate, decumbent to erect, simple or branched, 0.5-4 dm. long, somewhat succulent and glaucous.

Leaves sessile, opposite on the lower stem, becoming alternate and crowded upward; leaf blades narrowly lanceolate, elliptic or ovate, entire, 0.2-2.6 cm. long and 0.1-6 cm. wide, glabrous.

Flowers solitary and sessile in the leaf axils; sepals 5, 3-5 mm. long, the lobes ovate, somewhat succulent, with stalked glands; petals absent; stamens 5, the filaments distinct, slightly longer than the calyx.

Capsules 2.5-3.5 mm. long, glabrous.