Stems erect to ascending or prostrate, much-branched, 0.1-6(-8) dm, glabrous. Leaves non-aromatic; petiole 0.05-0.45 cm; blade triangular to rhombic, 1-9 × 1-6 cm, base cuneate, margins dentate or entire, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescences lateral glomerules sessile on lateral branched spikes; glomerules subglobose, 2-5 mm diam.; bracts linear, 0.4-2 cm. Flowers: perianth segments 3 or 4, usually connate only at base; lobes lanceolate to elliptic, 0.8-1 × 0.4-0.8 mm, membranaceous, apex broadly acute to rounded, occasionally deeply retuse, rounded or occasionally keeled, glabrous, green and covering fruit at maturity; stamens 2-3; stigmas 2, 0.1 mm. Utricles ovoid; pericarp nonadherent, reticulate-punctate. Seeds vertical and occasionally horizontal, ovoid, 0.6-1(-1.2) mm diam., margins rounded; seed coat reddish brown, smooth. 2n = 18.

Plant: Annual 20-58+ cm Leaves: blade 15-90+ mm, lanceolate to widely ovate, toothed, glabrous to sparsely powdery below, ± glabrous above; base generally wedge-shaped INFLORESCENCE: spike, axillary, 10-30 mm, bracts generally 0; flowers generally sessile Flowers: sepals generally 3, weakly enclosing fruit, back flat, glabrous to sparsely powdery; stamens generally 5; ovary lenticular to spheric, stigmas 2-5 Fruit: 0.5-1 mm diam; wall ± adherent to seed; Seeds vertical and horizontal, red-brown to black; wall very thin Misc: Open, saline places, drying mudflats; < 1100 m.; Aug-Oct