Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems ascending to erect, 5–20 cm, often tufted. Leaves mainly basal; blades 1–3 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 4 overlapping spikes; the lowest bract inconspicuous. Spikes short-pedunculate, ascending; the uppermost male, 3–6 mm long; the lower female, 4–8 mm long, few-flowered. Perigynia ascending to spreading, yellow-green, pubescent, obovoid, 2–3 mm long with a minute beak; stigmas 3. Female scales ovate, brown with a pale midvein and hyaline margins, shorter and narrower than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet, often calcareous soil of seeps, forests (often spruce), streambanks; montane
(Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).