Plant: Annual 5-15 dm; stem branched at base, generally erect; branches ascending, reddish to straw-colored at base, green-striate above Leaves: blade 20-80(190) mm, lanceolate, green to reddish, sparsely fine-scaly, becoming glabrous, entire to toothed, base hastate; upper petioled INFLORESCENCE: Staminate inflorescence: spike or spheric cluster; bracts 0; Pistillate inflorescence: bracts in fruit 3-7 mm, fused at base, ovate to widely triangular, surfaces with 2 spongy tubercles, base truncate to obtuse, margins few-toothed Flowers: Staminate flower: calyx lobes 3-5; stamens 3-5; Pistillate flower: calyx ± 0; ovary ovoid to spheric, style branches 2 Fruit: Seeds of 2 forms (2-3 mm wide and brown, 1.5-2 mm wide and black) Misc: Moist, saline or alkaline soils; < 200 m.