Rhizomes slender, fleshy when young, covered with scales. Rhizomes terminate with a tuber , break easily. Tubers taste mildly almond-like . Rhizomes develop chains of up to 15 tubers at intervals of 5-25 cm along their length . Rhizomes can penetrate root vegetables and become wiry and fibrous over time.
Tubers taste bitter .
Roots can grow to 1.3 m deep in heavy clay. Longest leaf-like bract much longer than infloresence. Achenes light brown. Achenes dark brown or black. Foliage dies back with cool temperatures in fall, but tubers survive and resprout the following spring.