Distribution: Occuring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast; cosmopolitan.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, and other disturbed, open areas.

Flowers: April-August

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Fibrous-rooted perennial from a short, stout, woody base, tan-woolly at the crown, the several scapes 1.5-6 dm. tall, grooved and ridged.

Leaves all basal, woolly to glabrous, 3- to several-nerved, lance-elliptic, acute, 10-40 cm. long and 1-4 cm. wide.

Inflorescence a dense, bracteate, cylindric spike, 1.5-8 cm. long and 1 cm. wide; bracts thin, ovate, acuminate; the 4 sepals with strong mid-veins, the outer two united, with separate mid-veins; corolla lobes 4, 2-2.5 mm. long, spreading or reflexed; stamens 4, exerted; ovary superior, 2-celled.

Capsule 3-4 mm. long