General:
Perennial, loosely tufted herb from short rhizomes; stems erect, 40-75 cm tall.

Leaves:
Located along the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, but slightly flattened, the early leaves stiff, with prominent complete cross-walls, sheaths open, with short, rounded, ear-shaped lobes.

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, the several to many heads with 5 to 20 flowers, cone-shaped, 3-12 cm long, the branches erect; perianth segments greenish-brown, 3-3.5 mm long, pointed, the inner about equal to the outer; stamens 3; anthers 0.7-1 mm long, shorter than the filaments; involucral bract shorter than the inflorescence.

Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, pointed, about as long as the perianth segments; seeds spindle-shaped, about 0.4 mm long, lacking tail-like appendages.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
Purple

Blooming Period:
Spring

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer

Source:  The USDA