Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect to ascending, 40–80 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 3–8 mm wide. Inflorescence of 5 to 10 overlapping, pedunculate, arching spikes; lowest bract longer than the inflorescence. Spikes cylindric, 1–4 cm long, bisexual all similar; male flowers few, basal; uppermost spike sometimes mostly male. Perigynia erect, green to tan, elliptic, 2.5–4.5 mm long, glabrous, flattened with a tiny beak; stigmas 3. Female scales lanceolate, blackish with a light midvein, shorter and narrower than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, much smaller than the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Thickets, moist forest, often along streams, lakes, roads; montane, subalpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).