Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Montana, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.

Habitat: In bogs or on lake margins.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Herbaceous perennials from rhizomes, the flowering stems 2-4 dm. tall, covered with dead leaves at the base.

Leaves linear, basally-sheathing, the basal 1-4 dm. long; cauline leaves gradually reduced upward, with a ligule 2-10 mm. long, the blade erect, semi-terete 1-3 mm. broad.

Flowers perfect, in terminal, 3-12 flowered, bracteate racemes; pedicles up to 25 mm. long, axillary to well-developed bracts; perianth segments 6, oblong, in 2 similar series, 1-nerved, 3 mm. long; stamens 6, the filaments short; stigmas sub-sessile.

Follicles 5-8 mm. long, compressed, divergent, light greenish-brown, with a stylar beak 0.5-1 mm. long.