General:
Perennial herb from elongated rhizomes; stems arising singly or few together, erect, 20-75 cm tall.

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

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, 3-12 cm long, with (3) 5 to 30, more or less globe-shaped heads, the heads each with many flowers, the branches few, erect; perianth segments dark brown, 3-4.5 mm long, lanceolate to short-awned, pointed, the inner about the same length as the outer; stamens 6; anthers 1-2 mm long, longer than the filaments; involucral bract shorter than inflorescence.

Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped to cylindrical, pointed, abruptly narrowed, shorter than the perianth segments; seeds barrel-like, about 0.4 mm long, lacking appendages.

Notes:
This is a variable species and several infraspecific taxa (often treated as distinct species) have been described from WA and OR.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia