Montana Field Guide

Rhizomatous. Stems erect, 20–70 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; blades 3–8 mm wide. Inflorescence of 4 to 7 subsessile to pedunculate spikes; the lowest bract much greater than the inflorescence. Spikes unisexual, ascending; the uppermost 1 to 3 male, linear, 1–5 cm long; the lower female, 1–5 cm long, cylindrical, subsessile to short-pedunculate. Perigynia spreading, the lowest reflexed, green to tan, broadly ovate, inflated, glabrous, 6–10 mm long, tapered to a beak 3–5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales acuminate, tan with hyaline margins, smaller 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).

Marshes, margins of streams, ponds; valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).