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

Habitat: Dry or slightly moist, disturbed soil, often where hard-packed.

Flowers: May-October

Origin: Both native and introduced

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Highly variable species, prostrate and spreading (but not rooting at the nodes) to occasionally erect, freely-branched annual, the stems terete, striate, up to 1 m. long.

Numerous, bluish-green, only slightly reduced upward, narrowly oblong, 1-3 cm. long and 2-6 mm. broad, narrowed to a very short, jointed petiole; stipules lacerate, 3-6 mm. long.

1-3 in the axils of the leaves or leaf-like bracts, the pedicles 1-3 mm. long, erect; perianth 2.5 mm. long, divided 2/3 the length, the segments 5, oblong, sub-equal, greenish with white to pink or red margins.

Achene with 3 sharp angles, brownish, smooth.