Montana Field Guide

Caespitose in small tufts. Stems erect, 3–20 cm. Leaves mainly basal; blades 1–2 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 4 sessile, clustered spikes; lower bract short. Spikes 5–10 mm long, all similar; female flowers above, male below. Perigynia erect, brown, narrowly oblanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long with an entire beak 0.5–1 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales ovate, brown with a lighter midvein and hyaline margins, exposing only the beak tip. Achene 2-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet, organic, sometimes shallow soil of turf, rock ledges, streambanks; alpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).