Stems 2–10 dm, freely branched when well developed, the branching tending to begin at the base, with the lowest pair of branches initially decumbent and often nearly as long as the main stem; lvs rather thick and fleshy, linear or narrowly oblong, to 10 × 1.5 cm, usually much smaller, ± clasping at the truncate or auriculate, often dilated base; fls 1–3 per axil, virtually sessile, the stout peduncle and pedicels to ca 1 mm, or wanting; fls a little larger than in no. 1, the hypanthium mostly 2.5–4.5 mm at anthesis, the caducous pet 2–3+ mm, pale lavender in life; anthers 4 or 8, light yellow; hypanthium about equaling and largely enclosing the fr, but open at the top, ovary and fruit 4-locular; the persistent style 1.5–3 mm, exserted; fr globose, 3.5–5+ mm thick; 2n=34. Edges of ponds, grassy swales, and similar wet places; N.J.; O. to N.D. and Wash., s. to C. Amer. July–Sept. Often confused with no. 2 [Ammannia coccinea Rottb.] in the past.
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