Montana Field Guide

Densely caespitose. Stems erect, 20–80 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 5–11 mm wide; upper sheaths cross-corrugate ventrally. Inflorescence of numerous sessile spikes arranged on branches of a dense, narrowly lanceolate head; lowest bract inconspicuous. Spikes 3–9 mm long, all similar, male flowers above, inconspicuous, female below. Perigynia spreading to ascending, lanceolate, convex, veiny, green to brown, 4–5 × 1–1.5 mm; the serrulate beak, 2–3 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales hyaline-tan with a green midvein, shorter than the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, filling the base of the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Our plants are variety stipata.

Thickets, swamps, marshes, often around lakes, ponds, streams; valleys, montane (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).)