E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

General:
Perennial herb from compact rhizomes; stems in dense clusters, coarsely longitudinally grooved with 10 to 20 ridges, the epidermal cells on the ridges distinctly larger than the others, 20-60 cm tall.

Leaves:
Reduced to small sheaths at the base of the stem.

Flowers:
Inflorescence globe-shaped, with numerous flowers on branches 0.5-3 cm long, appearing as if on the side of the stem; perianth segments reddish-brown, 4-6 mm long, pointed, about equal; stamens 3; anthers about as long as the filaments; involucral bract 3-5 cm long, cylindrical, resembling a continuation of the stem, coarsely longitudinally grooved with 10 to 20 ridges, the epidermal cells on the ridges distinctly larger than the others.

Fruits:
Capsules, with small depressions on the tops, slightly shorter than the perianth segments; seeds ellipsoid, 0.5 mm long, lacking tail-like appendages.