Montana Field Guide

Caespitose from short rhizomes. Stems erect, 20–70 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 6 pedunculate spikes; the lowest bract ca. as long as the inflorescence. Spikes: the uppermost male, 10–25 mm long; the lower female, cylindric, arching, 10–35 mm long. Perigynia ascending, green to tan, glabrous, elliptic, 4–6.5 mm long including the distinct beak 1.5–3.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales hyaline-tan with a green or tan midstripe, nearly as long as the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Woodlands, open forest, thickets, moist meadows; plains, valleys, montane (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).