Leaves 2--25 cdm × 1.5--4 mm. Inflorescences 3--20 heads; heads obovoid to globose. Flowers: outer tepals 2.7--3.6 mm; inner tepals 2.7--3 mm; stamens 6. Capsules slightly exserted, ellipsoid, 2.4--4.3 mm. Seeds 0.4--1 mm, tailed or more often not tailed. Fruiting early summer--fall. Wet meadows, bogs, springy woods, stream and lake shores; 400--3000 m; Alta., B.C.; Ariz.,, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Mexico (s to Puebla, Veracruz).