Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the northern Rocky Mountains.

Habitat: Open woods and clearings, from near sea level on the Olympic Peninsula to high elevations in the Rockies.

Flowers: May-August

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Perennial herbs from a short, thick rhizome, with dense clumps of elongate, wiry, grass-like leaves, the unbranched, leafy flowering stalks up to 15 dm. tall.

Basal leaves scabrous, 1-6 dm. long and 1-4 mm. broad; cauline leaves numerous, grass-like, reduced upward.

Inflorescence a terminal raceme, elongating up to 5 dm. in late flower; pedicels slender, 2.5-5 cm. long; perianth nearly rotate, cream colored; tepals 6, distinct, oblong, 6-8 mm. long; stamens 6, at least as long as the tepals.

Capsule 5-7 mm. long, 3-lobed.