Montana Field Guide

Glabrous and glaucous, rhizomatous perennial. Stems 10–80 cm, prostrate to ascending. Leaves cauline, oblanceolate to spatulate, short-petiolate, 1–6 cm long, the lowest reduced to scales. Inflorescence a branched, terminal, helicoid spike. Flowers: calyx deeply divided, 3–4 mm long; corolla white, salverform, 5–6 mm long, 5–9 mm across the limb; stamens included; stigma disc-like. Nutlets broadly ovate, 1–3 mm long, smooth; scar ovate in the center of the ventral face (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Margins of saline ponds, lakes; plains, valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).