Herbs annual, 20-50 cm tall. Stem erect, branched from base; branches alternate, spreading, yellow-green, white or purple-red striate, glabrous. Leaves alternate, horizontally or slightly obliquely spreading, semiterete, 2-5 cm × 2-3 mm, base expanded, slightly decurrent, margin membranous at base, apex mucronate. Inflorescence terminal, spicate; bracts linear, longer than bractlets, apex mucronate; bractlets narrowly ovate, longer than perianth, thickened in fruit and tightly appressed to perianth, margin membranous at base, apex mucronate. Perianth segments ovate-oblong, membranous, hardened and leathery in fruit, abaxially with a pectinate process on distal middle part, glabrous; portion of segment above process inflexed, with others forming a truncate surface, apex connivent with others into a short cone, acute, membranous. Style very short; stigmas filiform, 3-4 × as long as style. Utricle obovoid, 2-2.5 in diam. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Beaches, sandy soils on riversides. Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shandong, N Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].