Stems erect or semierect, branched, 1-5.5 dm, glabrous or sparsely farinose. Leaves nonaromatic; petiole to 1 cm; blade linear, 1-veined, 1-3(-5) × 0.1-0.2(-0.4) cm, somewhat fleshy, base cuneate, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous. Inflorescences glomerules in terminal and axillary panicles, 6-25 × 5-20 cm, widely spaced, maturing at different times; bracts variable. Flowers: perianth segments 5, connate into 0.3-0.4 mm tube; lobes ovate or orbicular-obovate, 1-1.4 mm, apex obtuse or rounded, cucullate, carinate, sparsely farinose, largely covering fruit at maturity; stamens 5; stigmas 2, 0.1 mm. Achenes ovoid; pericarp nonadherent, smooth. Seeds ovoid, 1.2-1.6 mm diam., margins obtuse with narrow rim; seed coat black, smooth, shiny. 2n = 18.

Fruiting mid summer-fall. Sandy areas, particularly sand bars in rivers and in sandy blowouts near river banks; 400-1400 m; Alta., Man., Sask.; Colo., Iowa, Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Dak., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., Wyo.