Protologue Description: Var. solutus n. var., caulibus crassis pallide viridibus 6-17 dm. altis, 2-4.5 mm diametro plerumque mollibus obscure multi-striatis; cataphyllis basilariis laxi basi fulvis, supremis membranaceis ad apicem fulvis vel stramineis interdum utrinque fuscis 9-28 cm. longis; inflorescentia laxis saepe diffusissimis 4-14 cm . diametro; bractea infima 1-4 dm. longa; sepalis 2.7-3.3 mm. longis subrigidis subappressis quam petalas vix longioribus subconcoloribus, dorso viridescentibus vel fulvis; magnibus angustis scariosis; petalis similibus; capsulis fulvis vel fulvo-viridibis paulo retusis perianthium aequantibus vel paulo superantibus.

Plants tall and stout, pale-green, 6-17 dm. high: culms usually soft (in the Southern States usually firmer), faintly many-striate, 2-4.5 mm. in diameter at the top of the sheaths: sheaths large, rather loose, pale chocolate-brown below; the uppermost membranaceous and pale-brown or stramineous toward the summit, rarely dark throughout, 9-28 cm. long: involucral leaf 1-4 dm. long: inflorescence loose, often very large and diffuse, 4-14 cm. in diameter: sepals 2.7-3.3 mm. long, rather stiff and rigid (less so in southern material), the tips sub-appressed, about equalled by the petals; the back broad, greenish or pale-brown, usually not bordered by brown lateral bands and as broad as or broader than the narrow scarious margins; petals similar: capsule pale- or greenish-brown mostly slightly retuse, equaling or slightly larger than the perianth. – Typical specimens examined: NOVA SCOTIA: “rare in low ground,” Sydney, August 17, 1902, Fernald; Whycocogmah, Cape Breton Island, July 22,1883, J. Macoun; near Pictou, July 12-18, 1901, Howe & Lang, no. 1523; NEW BRUNSWICK: Scovil’s Brook, Westfield, August 8, 1909, Fernald & Wiegand, - Fernald no. 2223 (type in Gray Herb.). MAINE: Pembroke, August 15, 1909, Fernald & Wiegand; Orono, July, 1890. Fernald; Gilead. July, 1897, Kate Furbish; Bristol, August 6, 1897, E. B. Chamberlain, no. 413; East Auburn, July 19, 1886, E. D. Merrill, no. 1046. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Warren, July 22, 1908, E. F. Williams. MASSACHUSETTS: Ipswich, Wm. Oakes; Revere, August 4, 1907, H. H. Bartlett, no. 881; Scituate, July 10, 1898, E. F. Williams; Centreville, August 19, 1901, Clara Imogene Cheney; Pitsfield, September 23, 1899, R. Hoffmann. RHODE ISLAND: Providence, June, 1845, Geo. Thurber, August 25, 1892 and July 30, 1893, J. F. Collins. CONNECTICUT: Colebrook, September 5, 1899, Fernald; East Haven, June 20, 1886, A.L. Winton. NEW YORK: Tannersville, July 28, 1903, C. S. Williamson, Herb. Acad. Phila., no. 508,454. NEW JERSEY: Seabright, June 24, 1892, Ida A. Keller; Barnegat City, July 17, 1909, Bayard Long; Winslow, July 27, 1901, Witmer Stone, no. 1808. PENNSYLVANIA: Lehigh Co., 1887, A. F. K. Krout; Island Park above Easton, July 14, 1897, T. C. Porter; West Philadelphia, June 14, 1894, A. MacElwee, Herb. Acad. Phila., no. 517,955; Perkiomen, July 29, 1891, Joseph Crawford, Herb. Acad. Phila., no. 504,523. NORTH CAROLINA: Biltmore, July 1, 1897, Biltmore Herb. no. 4086. SOUTH CAROLINA: no locality, M. A. Curtis: Santee Canal, H. W. Ravenel; Aiken, July 1866, H. W. Ravenel in Engelm. Herb. June. Bor. Am. Norm. no. 8. GEORGIA: Clarke County, June 18, 1900, R. M. Harper, no. 3; near Savannah, June 17, 1903, R. M. harper, no. 1834. FLORIDA: Eustis, Lake County, April 21, 1894, G.V. Nash, no. 452. INDIANA: Marion County, July 6, 1904, H. H. Bartlett; Licking, Blackford County, July 16, 1905, C. C. Deam, no. 34. ILLINOIS: Jackson, July 22, 1899, I. M. Clokey. TENNESSEE: Henderson, June, 1892, S.M. bain, no. 226, in part. ARKANSAS: Washington County, May, 1880, F. L. Harvey, no. 14. TEXAS: no locality given, Berlandier, no. 1942.