Stems to 2 cm, slender and wiry, in dense tufts. Leaves densely imbricate, not fragile, channeled and incurved when dry, scarcely spreading when moist; not constricted at junction of sheath and blade, the blade persistent, sheath broadly elliptic; marginal lamina typically entire, or finely and remotely serrate toward the tip. Capsule small and subglobose.

Habitat: Soil
Elevation: moderate to high elevations

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Alta., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Que., Calif., Colo., Mont., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Europe, n Asia.

Discussion

Variety septentrionale is an arctic-alpine taxon. In arctic North America there is a correlation between capsule shape and leaf serration, plants with distinctly serrate leaves having ovoid-cylindric or cylindric capsules, whilst those with entire or subentire margins have subglobose or ovoid capsules (D. G. Long 1985).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.