Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 15–40 cm, tufted. Leaves: basal and lower-cauline; blades 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 4 subsessile, erect, overlapping spikes; lowest bract shorter than the inflorescence. Spikes cylindric; uppermost, male or bisexual with male flowers below, 1–2 cm long; lower all female, 5–20 mm long. Perigynia erect, green to purplish, papillose, ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long; beak serrulate, <0.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales ovate, brown with a pale midstripe and hyaline margins, concealing the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Moist to wet, often alkaline or saline meadows, often along streams; plains, valleys, montane (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).