Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 1–15 cm, densely tufted. Leaves basal and lower-cauline; blades up to 0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence a solitary spike; lowest bract scale-like. Spike ovoid, 8–14 mm long; male flowers above, female below. Perigynia elliptic, 3–4.5 mm long, brown, tapered to a short, indistinct, entire beak; stigmas 3. Female scales brown, as wide but shorter than the perigynia; upper sometimes awn-tipped. Achene 3-sided, smaller than the wrinkled perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Fellfields, turf; alpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).