Subshrubs or shrubs, 50-350 cm. Stems erect. Leaves: petioles 5-10+ mm; blades ovate or elliptic to lanceolate, 30-60(-120+) × 5-30(-40) mm, margins usually toothed, faces closely scabrellous, gland-dotted. Heads in ± racemiform arrays. Peduncles 1-3+ mm. Involucres ± hemispheric, 2-4 mm. Phyllaries: outer 5 distinct, ± herbaceous. Paleae linear to subulate, 2.5-3 mm. Pistillate florets (2-)5; corollas 0.7-1 mm. Functionally staminate florets 3-8(-15+); corollas 2-3 mm. Cypselae 2-3 mm. 2n = 34. Flowering Jul-Oct. Mostly tidelands, brackish to saline marshes, beaches; 0-10 m; N.S.; Ala., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Miss., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tex., Va.