Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 5–35 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 1–2 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 6 sessile spikes congested in a dense globose head; lowest bract short. Spikes 4–7 mm long, all similar, female flowers above male. Perigynia ascending to spreading, dark brown, lanceolate, thin-margined, 2.5–3.5 × ca. 1 mm including the 0.5 mm long, entire beak; stigmas 2. Female scales ovate, purplish brown, shorter and narrower than the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, nearly filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet meadows, turf, often along streams or around ponds, lakes; subalpine, alpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).