Plants perennial, glabrous, with thick, densely tufted underground stolons. Stems erect, rarely as-cending, several from base, branched in inflorescence, 5-15(-20) cm; shoots usually densely crowded, not elongated. Leaves: ocrea brownish or reddish brown, membranous; blade linear or spatulate-lanceolate, not hastate (without basal lobes), 1.5-5 × 0.1-0.3 cm, base narrowly cuneate (gradually narrowing into petiole), margins entire, flat or slightly convolute, apex obtuse or subacute. Inflorescences terminal, occupying more than distal 2 of stem, ± dense, usually interrupted at least near base, narrowly paniculate with branches directed upward. Pedicels 1-4 mm. Flowers (3-)4-7 in whorls; inner tepals distinctly enlarged, 1.6-2.3 × 1.8-2.5 mm (free wing 0.3-0.5 mm wide), base cuneate, apex obtuse or subacute. Achenes brown or reddish brown, 1-1.5 × 0.8-1.2 mm. 2n = 14.

Flowering summer. Sandy and gravelly soil, shores, limestone outcrops; 0-300 m; Yukon; Alaska; ne Asia (ne Russian Far East).

The name Rumex graminifolius was commonly misapplied to this species in both northwestern North America and northeastern Eurasia.