Glabrous to sparsely hairy, rhizomatous perennial. Stems branched, prostrate to ascending 12–50 cm. Leaves linear to lance-linear, 1–4 cm long. Inflorescence a terminal, few-flowered, leafy cyme or solitary and axillary. Flowers: sepals lanceolate to ovate, 2–4 mm long, obscurely 1–3-veined; petals 1–3 mm long or absent; stamens 5. Capsule 3–6 mm long, opening by 3 slits (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Moist meadows, forests and margins of streams, wetlands; montane to rarely lower subalpine (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).