*Kniphofia typhoides* is one of my favorite fall-flowering plants, finishing up in October here just as frost kills the last few flowers. I assume the name comes from the resemblance of the brown inflorescence to that of a cattail (see here, for example: http://redlist.sanbi.org/imgs/photos/…). Certainly not showy, but the brown-purple color is striking up close - might make for interesting hybrids. The leaves are also *Typha*-like, two-ranked instead of forming a rosette. Sean Z Zone 6a SE Michigan
