Leaves pale green, simple, linear to very narrowly lanceolate, opposite, sessile, abruptly broadened at the base to sheath the stem. Leaves often have enrolled margins and a recurved tip, gradually tapering to the base.
Flowers minute, imperfect, solitary, and sessile, enclosed by the sheathing leaf bases.
Sepals 0 Petals 0 Stamens 1 Female Flower comprised of a single, 1-ovuled pistil. Petals 0 Stigmas 2-4, style usually elongate and persistent. Fruit an achene, olive-green to reddish, the beak 1 mm or more long, the pericarp thin and easily removed to expose the single seed. Newfoundland and Quebec to SE Manitoba, south to Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska. Also British Columbia and Alberta., south to Idaho and California.