Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 20–50 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 1–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 4 well-separated spikes; the lowest bract greater than the inflorescence. Spikes unisexual; the upper 1 or 2 male, linear, 8–25 mm long; the lower female, ascending to arching, 1–2 cm long, pedunculate, short-cylindric. Perigynia ascending, tan to brown, elliptic, glabrous, 3–4.5 mm long with a distinct beak up to 0.5 mm long; stigmas 2 or rarely 3. Female scales ovate, brown to purplish with a pale midvein and margins, shorter than the perigynia. Achene 2- or rarely 3-sided, smaller than the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Montana plants are variety major Olney.

Wet, gravelly or shallow soil on margins of lakes, streams; valleys to subalpine, more common higher (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).