Montana Field Guide

Fibrous-rooted, caespitose. Stems erect, 3–20 cm. Leaves basal; blades terete, septate, <1 mm wide; auricles minute, rounded. Inflorescence a small head with 2 to 4 sessile flowers subtended by 2 scarious bracts shorter than the inflorescence. Flowers: prophylls absent; tepals brown to whitish, 3–5 mm long, acute; stamens 6. Capsules 3–6 mm long, rounded, shorter or longer than the tepals; seeds with appendages as long as the body (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Mature fruit in August.

Of the small, high alpine rushes, Juncus castaneus has larger flowers, J. biglumis has only 2 flowers and capsules that are indented on top, and J. albescens has bracts that are as long as the flower head, and mature capsules that are 3-5 mm long; ca. as long as the light brown tepals. A hand lens or microscope and technical key are needed for positive identification.

Wet, non-calcareous soil of seeps and fens in the alpine zone.