Stems 0.3-1 m, glabrous proximally, villous in inflorescence. Leaves basal and proximal cauline ovate to elliptic, 10-25 × 5-18 cm, reduced distally, glabrous to sparsely villous at least on veins. Inflorescences spiciform-racemose or with few, short, ascending branches proximally, 0-10 cm, sparsely villous; bracts lanceolate, 1/2 as long as to equaling flowers, sparsely villous, ciliate. Tepals yellowish green, lanceolate to lance-ovate, not clawed, 7-12 mm, margins denticulate, sparsely villous at least in proximal 1/2; gland 1, basal, green to yellowish green, V-shaped; ovary subglabrous. Capsules elliptic to oblong, 1-1.5 cm, subglabrous. Seeds flat, broadly winged, 5-7 mm. 2n = 64.

Flowering early summer--late fall. Wet, marshy soils in mesic tundra and Salix thickets; 0--1000 m; Alaska; ne Russia, n Japan (Hokkaido).