Herbs, perennial, erect, with creeping, rhizomatous, ± woody base, usually unbranched, sometimes branched proximally, relatively slender, 1.1–3(–5) dm. Stems: internodes 4-lined. Leaf blades broadly to narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 11–35 × 3–13 mm, base not articulated, cuneate to shallowly cordate-amplexicaul, margins plane to subrevolute, apex rounded, midrib with 5–7 pairs of branches. Inflorescences <corymbiform>, (1–)3–15-flowered, narrowly branched, sometimes with branches from 1–2 proximal nodes. Flowers 12–15 mm diam.; sepals persistent, not enclosing capsule, (4–)5, ± lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, ± unequal, 6–7 × 2–3 mm; petals (4–)5, pale yellow, sometimes tinged red, obovate to oblanceolate, 6–8 mm; stamens persistent, 70–95; ovary 3-merous, <placentation parietal>. Capsules ellipsoid to globose, 4–7 × 3.5–5 mm. Seeds carinate, 0.6–0.7 mm; testa scalariform-reticulate. 2n = 16, 18.
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Rhizomatous herb 2–5 dm, usually simple to the infl; lvs elliptic, 1–3(–4) cm, a third to half as wide, obtuse or rounded at both ends or somewhat tapering below, not revolute; cymes with few–many fls; bracts linear or lanceolate; sep oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, to 6 mm; pet 5–7 mm; stigmas 3(4), minute; fr unilocular (the placentas slightly intruded), ovoid, 5–6 mm, rounded to a short beak; 2n reported as 16, 18. Wet shores and marshes; Nf. and N.S. to w. Ont., s. to Conn., N.Y., Mich., Minn., and at higher altitudes to W.Va. and N.C. July–Aug.
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