General:
Perennial, tufted herb from long rhizomes; stems 5-35 cm tall, arising singly or a few together, usually spreading, shorter than the leaves.

Leaves:
Sheaths tight; blades 3 to 6 per stem, flat, borne on the lower 1/3 of the stem, 2-4 mm wide, the lower ones slightly reduced.

Flowers:
Spikes 3 to 5, the terminal spike stalked, 4-10 mm long, with male flowers, the lower spikes 2 to 4, erect, with female flowers, stalked, the stalks up to 4 cm long; bracts subtending the female spikes sheathless, 3-6 cm long, leaflike, the lower over-topping the inflorescence.

Fruits:
Perigynia globe-shaped, 2-3 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, inflated, bright orange, coarsely ribbed, with a powdery surface, beakless; female scales egg-shaped and pointed to rounded at the tips, shorter and narrower than the perigynia and spreading, reddish-brown, with greenish midribs and translucent margins; stigmas 2, rarely 3; achenes lens-shaped, 1.2-1.4 mm long.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Flower Colour:
Green

Blooming Period:
Late Spring

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer

Source:  The USDA