Much like no. 1 [Sanguisorba canadensis L.]; stems to 1 m; spikes thickly ellipsoid to short-cylindric, 1-3 cm; stamens equaling or shorter than the purple-brown sep, with filiform red filaments; 2n=28, 56. Native of Eurasia, rarely escaped from cult.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.