I am no help on identifying it, but it sure is unusual looking.

This is driving me crazy. I have seen that plant at least a dozen times and the name is on the tip of my tongue. Unfortunately I have had a horrible cold or a middling size flu since this was first posted and picking up the books is just too exhausting and my brain has just been too pickled to work right. Since it seems to be letting up now, I promise I will get to it soon. (sniffle, sneeze, cough!!)

Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica)

LOL! As I posted my half-hearted response, the thought "where's buyorsell? I bet she would know" flickered through my half-sodden brain. Thank you for the ID. I only knew it as Lizards Tail. I now know more than I did and my dizziness didn't even come back.

Thank you so much for identifying this plant for me. Buyorsell you nailed it! Here are a couple of updated pictures of the bloom which is quite fascinating.

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This one taken a couple of weeks ago.

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This picture taken this morning. The stalk that the bloom is on is now about 2 ft. long and can no longer support it without staking. I assume this is the way propagation is done.

The new pictures are great. The inflorescence is shown so clearly now and makes the ID absolutely positive. I am curious about the care you are giving it. What kind of light and moisture, especially. Do you have any comments about the timing of the bloom? I admit I read only a few of the sites about it so far. The difference in the leaf shape is interesting and I am assuming the height of the stem and distance between leaves is due to light availability. Growing it to this stage in zone 3 and indoors is quite an accomplishment.