Plants with numerous stems, slender, succulent. Stems prostrate to decumbent, much-branched, 5-15(-21) cm × 0.5-2.5 mm, internodes of main stem 5-30 mm. Leaves: main stem leaves evenly spaced, of similar size on all stems; blade elliptic or ovate to obovate, 4-20(-30) × 3-9(-18) mm, apex acute to apiculate. Pedicels 3-10(-15) mm. Flowers: sepals ovate, 3.5-6 mm, apex apiculate. Capsules 7-10 × 8-12 mm, chartaceous. Seeds reddish to yellowish brown, 2-4 mm, glossy. 2n = 66, 68, 70 (Asia).

Flowering summer. Sea beaches, sandy flats, and dunes above high tide; ± 0-10 m; Greenland; Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon; Alaska; arctic Eurasia.