It is native to North America, where it occurs along the southeastern coastline from New Jersey to Texas.

[3] This plant is a rhizomatous perennial grass with stems reaching up to 2 meters in height.

[4] The canelike roots are filled with air and form a mass up to 46 centimeters wide.

It can be found in many types of freshwater wetlands as well as in ditches and disturbed or cultivated areas.

[5] It is less sensitive to grazing than many associated species, but growth is reduced by competition from neighboring plants.

[3] Some biologists therefore refer to it as a keystone species[8] This grass sprouts from the rhizome in the winter and grows over the course of the year.

It is also eaten by deer and utilized by the Florida panther, which lives in the marshes.