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

Leaves:
Both basal and throughout the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, the early leaves stiff, with prominent complete cross-walls; sheaths long, open with prominent, cylindrical, ear-shaped lobes.

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, consisting of 1 to 5 globe-shaped heads that are many-flowered; perianth segments deep brown, 3-3.5 mm long, pointed, narrowly short-awned, the inner about the same length as the outer; stamens 3; anthers 0.7 mm long, shorter than the filaments.

Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped to cylindrical, abruptly narrowed (almost rounded), pointed, slightly shorter than the perianth segments; seeds barrel-like, 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