Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains.

Habitat: Dry to moist, saline or alkaline soil, from the desert plains to middle elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Succulent annual, freely-branched from the base, prostrate to ascending, the stems 1-3 dm. long.

Leaves alternate, gradually reduced upward to foliaceous bracts, the blades hastate, sometimes entire above, the lateral lobes divergent and 1-4 mm. long, the terminal lobe linear to oblong or triangular, 0.5-3 cm. long; petioles slender, up to 3 cm. long.

Flowers tiny, mostly monoecious, in dense, sessile, axillary clusters, often reddish; perianth usually a single segment, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, oblong; stamens 1, usually lacking in some flowers; styles 2.

Utricle somewhat flattened, finely pitted.