State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Common and widespread in montane areas. Grows well in recently grazed areas.
Densely caespitose. Stems erect, 20–70 cm. Leaves: basal bladeless; cauline blades 1–3 mm wide. Inflorescence of 4 to 8 sessile spikes, densely clustered into a globose to ovoid head; lowest bract short. Spikes 5–8 mm long, all similar; male flowers above female. Perigynia ascending to spreading, brown with green margins, ovate, narrowly wing-margined, 3.5–5 × 1.5–2 mm; the serrulate beak, bidentate, 1–1.5 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales brown with a green midstripe and hyaline margins, just shorter and narrower than the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, smaller than the perigynium (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).