Montana Field Guide

Short-rhizomatous. Stems erect, 20–80 cm, loosely tufted. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 3–8 mm wide. Inflorescence of 2 to 5 well-separated spikes; the lowest bract equal to or greater than the inflorescence. Spikes pedunculate, arching to ascending; the terminal male, linear, 1–3 cm long; the lower female, 1–4 cm long, cylindric. Perigynia ascending to reflexed, green to tan, narrowly ovate, veiny, glabrous, 4–6 mm long including a distinct beak, 2–2.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales brown, awn-like, serrulate, narrower and shorter than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, much smaller than the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Wet meadows, marshes, thickets, often around streams, springs; plains, valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).