Tall perennials they have long straplike leaves. The fuzzy flowers stand above the leaves atop a stiff stem. The staminate flowers are greenish yellow and sit atop the tubular brown spike of pistillate flowers.

Throughout

Most of the plant may be considered useful. The fully grown leaves may be used for caning chairs, weaving small objects and baskets. Rhizomes can be dug, pulled, teased from the muck, cleaned and peeled. Starch may be scraped off or soaked out of the rhizomes, dried then ground into flour. The little corms attached to the base of the stem and rhizome may be peeled, and fried. Lower parts of the leaves may be eaten raw in salad and the young stems boiled. Pollen may be added to breads and other baked goods to increase nutrition.