It is native to western North America, including the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Typical habitat includes marshes, streams, and lakes.

Stems are up to 25 centimeters long, prostrate on the ground when terrestrial, or floating when aquatic.

Flowers have 5 to 8 shiny yellow petals a few millimeters long with many stamens and pistils at the center.

The fruit is an achene borne in a spherical cluster of 9 or more.