Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to coastal California.

Habitat: Marshes and river bottoms from tidelands to the lower mountains.

Flowers: May-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Perennial, the stems 4-8 dm. tall, closely spaced on stout rhizomes.

Leaves alternate, 2-4 per stem, the upper ones with long, terete blades with prominent partitions; leaf bases sheathing, with rounded auricles 2-4 mm. long.

Heads 3-9, many-flowered, 8-12 mm. broad, assembled into 1-3 clusters 1-2 cm. broad; perianth tawny to deep brown, the 6 segments subequal, narrowly lanceolate and sharp-pointed; stamens 3.

Capsule about equal the perianth, cylindric, narrowed to a short beak.