Prairie dropseed

Prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis, a perennial grass of the Poaceae grass family native to Illinois and the midwest, forms unique fountain-shaped tufts of dense, narrow leaves, sending up one or more shoots from the center that can reach up to 2' tall and produce lacy panicles in late summer and fall.
 
For more about native plants for the Midwest, especially those that do well in shade/moist areas, see the "book" on this website, Gardening with Native Plants in Shady Evanston.