Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.

Habitat: Sagebrush hills to alpine slopes, especially on gravelly benches or talus.

Flowers: May-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, wasps

Glandular-pubescent perennial from a stout taproot and branched woody base, the trailing stems forming mats up to 3 dm. broad; flowering branches 3-10 cm. tall, very brittle and tending to shatter readily.

Leaves opposite, 5-10 mm. long, 3-nerved, slender and tapering with a needle-like tip, over-lapping on the stem, with bundles of leaves in the axils of the primary leaves.

Flowers usually 7 or more in terminal clusters, the pedicels stout, 5-20 mm. long; sepals 5, lanceolate, pointed, 4-6 mm. long; petals 5, white, usually longer than the calyx; stamens 10; styles 3.

Capsule ovoid, shorter than the sepals, opening by 3 valves.