Polygonum douglasii Greene subsp. johnstonii (Munz) J. C. Hickman; P. douglasii var. johnstonii Munz; P. exile Eastwood; P. triandrum Coolidge

Stems green to brownish, usually branched from base, 4-50 cm, glabrous. Leaves basal leaves caducous or persistent, distal leaves abruptly reduced to bracts, rarely much longer than flowers; ocrea glabrous; blade linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, 15-45 × 2-8(-12) mm, margins usually revolute, smooth. Inflorescences axillary or axillary and terminal, long, open, racemes, 5-15 cm; cymes (1-)2-4-flowered. Pedicels 1-4 mm. Flowers closed; perianth (2.5-)3-3.5 mm; tube 25-40% of perianth length; tepals greenish or reddish with white or pink margins, oblong; midveins greenish or brown, unbranched or with few branches at base; stamens 3-8. Achenes ovate or elliptic, 2.5-3 mm.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Dry meadows, pastures, sagebrush and forests on sandy, gravelly, or rocky substrates; 800-3500 m; Alta., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., Wyo.