Found along the borders of ponds, blossoming in June, July and August.

The erect, simple, stalk is round, smooth, strong, and fine in fibre; of a bright yellow-green.

The leaf is a long, narrow, green ribbon, pointed at the tip, and growing thick toward the base where it sheathes the stalk; it has a smooth surface, and exceedingly fine texture; of a beautiful grass-green color.

The small flowers are of 2 kinds in densely crowded, round heads which are threaded on a long curving flower-stem; the lower ones are the seed-bearing heads, and develop into green burs about 1 inch in diameter, the upper, stamen-bearing ones, are light and fluffy with many fine thread-like stamens, of a dull white color, tipped with gray.

One involuntarily says of this plant, How Japanese! Our Western neighbors have shown in their drawings that they appreciate the long sweeping curves and original gesture found in many water plants. The name of the genus means a fillet, and is derived from the ribbon-like leaf.