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

Habitat: Lake and pond shores, banks of slow moving streams and rivers, and other wet, open areas at low to middle elevations.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted, sweet-scented annual, the triangular, solid, slender stems 0.3-1.5 dm. tall.

Leaves few, grass-like, all near the base, as long or longer than the culms, 0.5-2 mm. wide; involucral bracts much surpassing the inflorescence.

Spikelets in dense, capitate clusters, the terminal cluster sessile, the others on slender rays up to 3 cm. long; spikelets 4-10 mm. long, flattened; scales of the spikelets in two vertical rows, 7- to 9-nerved, 1.0-1.7 mm. long, with a recurved awn tip 0.3-1.0 mm. long; stamen solitary; style trifid.

Achenes triangular, 0.6-1.0 mm. long.