Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 15–50 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline; blades 2–3 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 4 short-pedunculate, ascending spikes forming a loose cluster; lowest bract ca. as long as the inflorescence. Spikes 3–10 mm long, all similar; uppermost bisexual with male flowers basal; lower all female. Perigynia erect, green to bronze-tinged, elliptic, 2–2.5 mm long, including the serrulate beak <0.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales blackish, sometimes with thin, pale margins, shorter than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, nearly filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Shores of steams, lakes, wet spruce forest; montane, subalpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).