Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, east across northern Canada to northeastern North America; also in Eurasia.

Habitat: Subalpine to alpine slopes, moraines, and stream banks.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Tufted, grass-like perennial, the slender stems 1-4 dm. tall.

Basal leaves several; stem leaves narrow, slender-pointed, 1-3 mm. broad.

Inflorescence a spikelike panicle 1-3 cm. long, usually nodding; involucral bract often less than 1 cm. long, always shorter than the panicle; perianth dark brown, the 6 segments 2-3 mm. long, acuminate; anthers 0.5 mm. long, shorter than the filaments.

Capsule shorter than the perianth.