Herbs, 5-70 cm, glabrous. Stems erect or ascending, branched from base or nearly so; branches straight or slightly arcuate (proximal ones sometimes almost prostrate). Leaves (especially proximal ones) mostly opposite; blade linear, usually more than 1.5 mm wide in herbarium specimens, fleshy, distinctly swollen or ovate at base, apex mucronulate, not spinose. Inflorescences distinctly interrupted, 1-flowered; bracts alternate or almost opposite, not imbricate, horizontally reflexed at maturity, swollen at base, abruptly narrowing into mucronulate nonspinose apex. Flowers: bracteoles distinct, not adnate to perianth segments; perianth segments wingless or with rudimental triangular tubercles at maturity, margins crenate or pectinate-ciliate apically, glabrous; fruiting perianth ca. 3-6(-7) mm diam. 2n = 18.

Flowering spring-summer. Coastal and disturbed saline habitats; 0-50 m; introduced; Calif.; Eurasia; n Africa; introduced in South America.

Salsola soda can be expected to spread in California, or to appear in inland or coastal saline habitats in southern states.