Subshrubs, dioecious or sparingly monoecious, mostly 1-4 × 2-15 dm. Stems decumbent to ascending. Leaves persistent or sub-persistent, opposite to subalternate proximally, alternate distally; petiole 4 mm; blade green, spatulate to oblanceolate or obovate, 12-55 × 5-12 mm, 2-5 times longer than wide. Staminate flowers dark brown or yellow (especially in the northern Great Plains), in glomerules 2-4 mm thick, in terminal panicles 3-18 cm. Pistillate flowers in rather leafy unbranched spikes or panicles 10-25 cm. Fruiting bracteoles sessile or stipe 2-5 mm, body globose to flattened, 3-6 × 2-4(-5) mm, terminal tooth to 1.5 mm, subtended with 2-4(-7) lateral teeth, surface densely, shortly tuberculate to smooth and free of tubercles. Seeds 1.5-2 mm wide. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering spring-fall. Greasewood and sagebrush-saltbush communities, mainly on fine-textured saline substrates; 1400-2300 m; Alta., Man., Sask.; Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., N.Dak., S.Dak., Utah, Wyo.