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

General:
Perennial, loosely tufted herb from short rhizomes; stems 10-45 cm tall, rooting at the nodes, viviparous (producing plantlets in the inflorescence).

Leaves:
Located on the lower part of the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, with prominent complete cross-walls; sheaths open, with short, rounded, ear-shaped lobes.

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, 7-15 cm long, open, with flowers mostly arising singly (rarely in groups of 2) along the numerous branches; perianth segments green, tinged with red, 2.5-3 mm long, short-pointed to round, the inner slightly longer than the outer; stamens 6; anthers much longer than the filaments.

Fruits:
Capsules, pointed, longer than the perianth segments; seeds egg-shaped, about 0.5 mm long, lacking tail-like appendages.