Montana Field Guide

Caespitose in small tufts. Stems erect, 7–30 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 1–3 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 5 sessile, overlapping to clustered spikes; lower bract short. Spikes 4–8 mm long, all similar; female flowers above male. Perigynia ascending, green, ovate, 1.5–2 mm long with an indistinct, slightly serrate beak <0.5 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales medium brown with a lighter midvein and hyaline margins, shorter but as wide as the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Moist to wet meadows, fens; subalpine, alpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).