Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 5–15 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline; blades ca. 2 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 4 short-pedunculate, ascending spikes forming a loose cluster; lowest bract as long or shorter than the inflorescence. Spikes 4 to 10 mm long, all similar; uppermost bisexual with male flowers basal; lower all female. Perigynia erect, bronze below, blackish above, elliptic, ca. 2 mm long, including the serrulate beak <0.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales blackish with pale margins, shorter or equal to the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, nearly filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet soil along streams, seeps; alpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).