Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 10–60 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 6 ascending, separate spikes; the lowest bract longer than the inflorescence. Spikes: the uppermost male, 8–17 mm long; the lower female, 8–15 mm long, ellipsoid, short-pedunculate. Perigynia spreading to reflexed, green to yellow, ovoid, glabrous, 4–5 mm long with a distinct, gently curved beak 1.5–2.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales lanceolate, coppery with a green midvein, smaller than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, nearly filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet, often gravelly or peaty soil of meadows, lake shores streambanks, fens; valleys, montane (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).