Herbaceous perennial with a branched crown from a deep-seated root. Stems ascending to erect, 10–30 cm, highly branched. Leaves sessile, linear, 1–5 cm long. Inflorescence an open-branched panicle with minutely glandular-serrate, leaf-like bracts. Flowers perfect, yellow-green; hypanthium 1–2 mm long; sepals 0.5–1 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid nut, 2–3 mm long, ribbed longitudinally (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).