Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 15–80 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline blades 1–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 8 sessile spikes in a dense head; lowest bract spreading, linear, usually longer than the inflorescence. Spikes 5–9 mm long, all similar, female flowers above, male below. Perigynia erect, (narrowly) lanceolate, green to tan, wing- and serrulate-margined, 3–4 mm long including the indistinct 1–2 mm long beak, serrulate below, entire above; stigmas 2. Female scales lanceolate, acuminate, light brown with a pale midvein, as wide and just shorter than the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, much smaller than the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet or vernally wet soil of meadows, sparsely vegetated shores of streams, ponds; plains, valleys, montane (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).