This native species is widespread on wet soil in temperate regions of North America. It has often been misidentified as the Eurasian crus-gallii, which has a higher chromosome number (2n = 56 versus 36). Hybrids have not been demonstrated; but see note under muricata var. microstachya. In muricata, the generally stouter papillose-based hairs of spikelets have often been considered diagnostic, but a more reliable difference (FNA 25) appears to be the upper (fertile, coriaceous) lemmas; these are broadly obovoid or orbicular (versus ovate to elliptical), with acute to acuminate apices passing directly into the tip (versus rounded to broadly acute apices with a more distinct, early-withering, hairier tip). Spikelets are usually purplish-streaked (versus just greenish). Also, muricata tends to be more robust, with plants up to 2 m tall (versus 1.6 m); leaf blades up to 65 cm long (versus 30 cm); and panicles up to 35 cm long (versus 25 cm). It generally occurs in more permanent and natural wetlands than crus-gallii, but there is much overlap in habitat. During 2000-2020, muricata appears to have greatly increased at the Ballard County WMA in sloughs where Nelumbo lutea has been killed with herbicide.