Erect perennial 3-7 dm, somewhat woody below, often rhizomatous but the stems clustered; lvs linear-oblong to narrowly elliptic, 3-7 cm נ5-15 mm, with or without evident lateral veins, acute or obtuse, tapering to the base; infl much-branched and usually compact; bracts lanceolate; sep lanceolate to ovate, equal or nearly so, 2.5-5 mm; pet 5-9 mm; stamens 45-85; stigmas 3(4), minute; fr globose to ovoid, 5-7 mm, slender-beaked, strictly unilocular; seeds 2-2.7 mm. Upland woods, prairies, and barrens; O. and Ky. to Io., Kans., and Okla., s. to Ala. and Ark. June-Aug. (H. cistifolium, misapplied)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.