Plant: Shrub < 10 dm, generally rounded, ± erect, much-branched; twigs generally spreading, stiff, becoming spine-like Leaves: alternate, entire, short-petioled; blade 8-24 mm, elliptic to widely ovate, firm, densely gray-scaly Inflorescence: Staminate inflorescence: spike or spheric cluster; bracts 0; Pistillate inflorescence: clusters to spike- or panicle-like, sometimes terminal; bracts in fruit 5-12(20) mm, free, widely elliptic to ± round, smooth, entire to few-toothed Flowers: Staminate flower: calyx lobes 3-5; stamens 3-5; Pistillate flower: calyx ± 0; ovary ovoid to spheric, style branches 2 Fruit: an utricle, Seed 1, 1.5-2 mm, erect Misc: Alkaline flats, gravelly slopes in scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland; < 2400 m.; Apr-Jul