The Ralph Wang Trail
In a sedge fen (still determining dominant graminoids; dominant shrub is Betula pumila, plus Salix candida, S. bebbiana, S. petiolaris and S. pseudomonticola present) near the border of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada (prairie ecoregion but has some boreal species that creep in). I should note that we are in the 4th drought year in a row, and even this fen was relatively dry, so this plant might be a stunted version.
-more than 1 spike, terminal one is staminate, two lateral ones are pistillate
-spikes short-pedicillate
-3 stigmas and achene is trigonous. Achene is much smaller than the perigynium body
-style continuous with achene as a prong on some achenes, but also broke off too easily on a few others
-perigynia smooth (not papillose or hairy), obviously veined, straw colored, nearly translucent (can see the achene through them). 3mm long and 1.1-1.2mm wide
-perigynium beak ~1mm. Some of the photos make it appear bidentate but I am not finding obvious teeth under the scope
-leaves at most 2mm wide, hairless, appear to have some nodules but not quite septate. Ligule <1mm
-stem <1mm wide
-caespitose
-inflorescence ~2cm long, proximal bract ~5cm
-pistillate bracts much smaller than peryginia
-whole plant is ~25cm tall
-ventral sheath membranous