General:
Perennial, tufted herb from short rhizomes; stems numerous, erect, 40-90 cm tall.

Leaves:
Located on the lower parts of the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, the early leaves stiff, with prominent complete cross-walls; sheaths open with prominent, cylindrical, ear-shaped lobes.

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, 5-20 cm long, narrow, more than twice as long as wide, the heads cone-shaped, with less than 10 flowers, the branches erect; perianth segments greenish-brown, 3.5-4.5 mm long, pointed, the inner shorter than the outer; stamens 6; anthers 0.7-1 mm long, shorter than the filaments.

Fruits:
Capsules, tapered to the tips, much longer than the perianth segments; seeds spindle-shaped, about 0.4 mm long, with short, tail-like appendages on both ends, the appendages 1/2 the length of the seed bodies or less.

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