Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east throughout all of North America except southeastern U.S.

Habitat: Pond and lake margins, wetland and riparian areas.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Stout, herbaceous perennials from rhizomes, the culms 1-3 m. tall, firm, terete, often over 1 cm. thick toward the base.

Leaves few, toward the base of the culm, with well-developed sheath and short blade.

Inflorescence umbel-like, with spikelets in small, sessile clusters on the stiff, ascending branches of the inflorescence; spikelets dull gray-brown, 8-15 mm. long; principle involucral bract solitary, 2-10 cm. long, erect, an extension of the culm, green; lesser bracts small, chaffy and brownish; scales subtending the flowers scarious, 3.5-4 mm. long, with linear, reddish-brown marks on a pale gray background, the margins somewhat lacerate; perianth of 2-6 fragile, barbellate bristles; stamens usually 3; style bifid or trifid.

Achenes 2.2-2.5 mm. long, plano-convex or unequally triangular.