Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast of western Washington and in the Columbia River Gorge; British Columbia to California, east to Minnesota and Texas.

Habitat: Moist, somewhat saline areas.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Slender annual from a well-developed taproot, the scapes 3-20 cm. tall.

Leaves all basal, linear, succulent, 2-10 cm. long and 0.3-1.5 mm. wide; leaves and scapes usually rough-pubescent, becoming woolly at the base

Inflorescence a glabrous, bracteate spike, 1-10 cm. long and up to 5 mm. wide, loosely flowered, the rachis partly exposed; bracts fleshy, broadly ovate, 2 mm. long; plants sub-dioecious, some with non-functional stamens, others with non-functional pistils; calyx 4-lobed; corolla small, the 4 lobes less than 1 mm. long, erect or reflexed; stamens mostly 2; ovary superior, 2-celled.

Inflorescence a glabrous, bracteate spike, 1-10 cm. long and up to 5 mm. wide, loosely flowered, the rachis partly exposed; bracts fleshy, broadly ovate, 2 mm. long; plants sub-dioecious, some with non-functional stamens, others with non-functional pistils; calyx 4-lobed; corolla small, the 4 lobes less than 1 mm. long, erect or reflexed; stamens mostly 2; ovary superior, 2-celled.