Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 30–90 cm. Leaves: basal bladeless; cauline sheaths coppery opposite the blades that are 3–5 mm wide. Inflorescence of numerous, sessile spikes, congested on cylindric, ascending, overlapping branches; lowest bract usually inconspicuous. Spikes 5–8 mm long, all similar; male flowers above female or all female. Perigynia ascending to spreading, lanceolate, brown to green, glabrous, serrulate-margined, 2.5–3.5 mm, tapered to the flattened, grooved beak, 1–1.5 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales hyaline-brown, lanceolate, hiding the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet, organic soil of fens, marshes; valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).