Stem:  Stems are round or sometimes slightly triangular. They are hollow between the leaf nodes, jointed, and range from 30 cm to 1 m in height. They arise from extensive underground rhizomes.

Flower: Flowers are arranged as 7 to 10 spikelets growing from the bases of the upper leaves. These spikelets are 0.5-2.5 cm long with several greenish scales arranged in 2 rows along a central stalk. Scales conceal inconspicuous bisexual flowers.

Fruit: The flattened, linear, yellow achenes are 2.5-3 mm long and are tipped with spines. 6-9 minutely barbed bristles attached to the base of each achene.

Root: Fibrous and arising from rhizomes.

Propagation: Seeds, and can spread by rhizomes. 

Importance of plant: The achenes are eaten by waterfowl. Dulicium's rhizomatous growth my also help stabilize shorelines. 

Distribution: North America. In Washington, dulichium is more common west of the Cascades and in wooded areas of central and eastern Washington.

Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs, margins of lakes, ponds, and streams.

May be confused with: Grasses and other members of the sedge family. Grasses have leaves in 2 vertical rows instead of 3. Sedges of the genus Carex have unisexual flowers with the female flowers enclosed in a sac (perigynium), whereas dulichium flowers are bisexual, lack a perigynium, and flowers are arranged in 3 vertical rows on the stalk.

Photographs: Dulichium arundinaceum closeup, dulichium growing along Lake margin

Line Drawings: None available