Grows in moist meadows and woodlands, lowlands to subalpine. Tall perennial herbs from thick rhizomes, the unbranched stems glabrous below and white-woolly above, 1-2 m. tall. Leaves numerous, alternate, cauline, oblong-elliptic, up to 35 cm. long and nearly as broad. Inflorescence is a loose, open panicle, 3-7 dm. long, the lower branches distinctly drooping.
Herb with alternating cauline leaves and obolanceolate basal leaves. Flowers white with 4 petals.