Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 30–90 cm, loosely tufted. Leaves: basal bladeless; cauline blades 1–2 mm wide, inrolled. Inflorescence of 3 to 4 well-separated sessile spikes; the lowest bract leaflike, ca. as long as the inflorescence. Spikes unisexual, ascending; the uppermost 1 or 2 male, linear, 2–4 cm long; the lower female, 1–3 cm long, cylindrical. Perigynia ascending, purplish, ovoid, pilose, 3–4 mm; the beak 0.5–1 mm long with spreading teeth; stigmas 3. Female scales lanceolate, short-awned, purple with a pale midstripe, longer or shorter than the perigynia. Achene 3-sided, smaller than the perigynium (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Our plants are variety americana Fernald.

Saturated, organic soil, often forming near monocultures in fens; valleys to lower subalpine (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).