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

Habitat: Shores, swales, ditches, and disturbed ground.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, wasps

Mostly glabrous annual, the stems rooting at the nodes, the upright stems simple to freely branched, peppery to the taste, the herbage with glands in small pits.

Leaves alternate, numerous, all cauline, only slightly reduced upward, the blades lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 5-7 cm. long, the stipules up to 15 mm. long, oblique.

Inflorescence a terminal raceme and several lateral, spike-like, interrupted, lateral racemes 2-7 cm. long; pedicles 1-2 mm. long; perianth 3-4 mm. long, glandular, attached to about mid-length, the 4 segments greenish with white or pink margins, oblong; stamens 4 or 6; styles 2 or 3, distinct.

Achenes brown, 3 mm. long.