Montana Field Guide

Caespitose. Stems erect, 10–40 cm. Leaves basal and cauline blades 1–3 mm wide. Inflorescence of 4 to 8 sessile, overlapping to clustered spikes; lowest bract short. Spikes 4–9 mm long, all similar, female flowers above, male below. Perigynia ascending, pale green to light tan, ovate, 2–3 mm long with an indistinct, serrulate beak <0.5 mm long; stigmas 2. Female scales ovate, whitish to green with a green midvein, nearly as long and wide as the perigynia. Achene 2-sided, filling the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Our plants are subspecies canescens.

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