Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Southern Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.

Habitat: Wet places, from tidelands to streams or lake margins in the mountains.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted perennial, the stems clustered on short rhizomes, 15-50 cm. tall.

Leaves alternate, 1-3 per stem, the blades terete, with prominent partitions; leaf bases sheathing, with rounded auricles.

Inflorescence terminal, 2-15 cm. long, exceeding the involucral bract, the branches spreading; heads numerous, small, 6- to 12-flowered; perianth usually deep brown, 2.5-3 mm. long, the 6 segments equal, lanceolate and slightly acuminate; stamens 6.

Capsule brown, longer than the perianth, conic-ovoid, tapered to a short projection.