State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Native to parts of southwestern North America, likely introduced into Montana. Seldom collected in the state.
Monoecious. Stems erect, often red-striped, 20–100 cm, branched above with glabrous to sparsely pubescent foliage. Leaf blade lanceolate to ovate, 2–8 cm long, mostly as long as the petiole. Inflorescence green, terminal and axillary, cylindric panicles; bracts linear-lanceolate, spine-tipped, ca. 5 mm long. Flowers: sepals 3 to 5, elliptic, 1.5–4 mm long with excurrent midveins; stamens 3 to 5. Utricle 2–3 mm long, shorter than sepals (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).