Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 6–40 cm, often tufted. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 2–5 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 4 sessile, overlapping spikes; the lowest bract inconspicuous. Spikes ascending; the uppermost male, 10–18 mm long; the lower female, 5–10 mm long, few-flowered. Perigynia ascending, pale green, pubescent, obovoid, 2.5–3 mm long with a short beak; stigmas 4 (3–5). Female scales ovate, purplish-black with hyaline margins, ca. as large as the perigynia. Achene obovoid, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Moist to dry, coniferous forest; valleys to lower subalpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).