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

Habitat: Marshes, ponds and shallow slow-flowing water, sea level to mid-elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Monoecious, perennial herbs of wet places from extensive rhizomes, the stems 1-3 m. tall, erect, cylindrical and pithy.

Leaves alternate, sheathing, linear, the blades 8-20 mm. broad, grayish-green.

Flowers naked in terminal, cylindrical, spike-like inflorescences, the staminate above the pistillate, the two portions contiguous; staminate flowers consisting of 2-5 stamens borne directly on the main axis, intermixed with slender hairs; pistillate flower a single, 1-celled pistil; pistillate section 12-30 mm. thick, brown, the surface minutely pebbled; abortive ovaries pear-shaped.

Fruit dry, 1 mm. long, ellipsoid.