Montana Field Guide

Stems erect, 7–40 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline, some greater than the inflorescence, yellowish; blades 1–5 mm wide. Inflorescence of 1 to 4 well-separated spikes; lowest bract greater than the inflorescence. Spikes erect to ascending; similar, pedunculate, 5–10 mm long, not including the basal female scales; male flowers above, few, inconspicuous. Perigynia 3 to 5, ascending, green, obovoid, glabrous, loosely aggregated, 3–4.5 mm long, with a smooth beak 0.5–1.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales green, elongate, bract-like below, ovate and shorter above. Achene 3-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Open forest along streams; valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).