Plant: Perennial, sprawling to ascending, 15-40 cm, generally glabrous; rhizome white; stem: internodes ± scabrous Leaves: simple, ± evenly spaced; blade 15-35 cm, linear to linear-lanceolate; margin papillate at 20X magnification, flat, dull, sometimes ciliate near base; vein 1 Inflorescence: cyme, lateral, several- to generally many-flowered; bracts scarious; pedicels spreading to erect, in fruit widely branched Flowers: sepals 5, 3-4 mm, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, ± acute, glabrous, margin widely scarious, ribs in fruit ± 3 near base; petals 5, 1-1.2 X sepals; generally 2-lobed ± to base; stamens 10, sometimes fewer; styles 3, 0.2-2.8 mm Fruit: Fruit: capsule, ± ovoid to cylindric-oblong; teeth 6(8,10), ascending to recurved; Seed 0.8-0.9 mm, reddish brown; surface minutely roughened Misc: Moist areas; ± 900 m.