Sanguisorba canadensis is a perennial herb to 1.5 m, from a stout rhizome, stem erect.
Leaves alternate, pinnate to 50 cm long including leaf stalk, becoming smaller above, leaflets 7-15, to 8 cm long, oblong, elliptic to egg-shaped, tip blunt, base rounded, margin finely sharply toothed.
Flowers white, 0.3 cm, 4 sepals only, no petals, in dense, cylindric spikes to 12 cm long, blooming and fruiting July-Sept.
Fruit small, dry.
Wetland status: FACW+.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent.
Origin: Native.
Habitat: Marshes, wet open areas.