E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

General:
Biennial or perennial (sometimes flowering the first year) herb from a taproot and freely rooting stems; stems prostrate, several, branched, glabrous, 2-20 cm long.

Leaves:
Basal leaves 1-2.5 cm long, numerous in a dense persistent rosette; stem leaves opposite, usually linear, needle-pointed, 5-12 mm long, the upper ones sometimes minutely fringed, 2 to several of the pairs usually with secondary leaves clustered in their axils; stipules lacking.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of usually 2 to several flowers per stem; petals 4 or sometimes 5, less than 1 mm long or lacking; sepals 5 or more usually 4, egg-shaped, 1.5-2.5 mm long, spreading at time of capsules opening.

Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, 2-5 mm long, 4- or 5-valved; seeds about 0.3 mm long, not shiny.