Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Moist, low ground along streams and ditches, but sometimes in drier ground.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Herbaceous, sweet-scented perennial, the sharply triangular, solid stems 1-7 dm. tall, arising singly from slender rhizomes that terminate in small tubers.

Leaves grass-like, clustered at the base, the elongate blade 3-8 mm. wide, the sheaths closed; involucre bracts elongate, unequal, sometimes longer than the leaves.

Spikelets in open, cylindric spikes, the terminal spike or cluster of spikes sessile, the others single or in small groups on rays up to 7 cm. long; spikelets slender, 0.5-5 cm. long and 1-2 mm. wide; scales of the spikelets in two vertical rows, 2.5-3 mm. long, several nerved, broad and overlapping laterally, but not closely set; perianth none; stamens 3; style trifid.

Achenes unequally triangular, 1.3-2 mm. long.