Carex aquatilis
Water sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex aquatilis (Water sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family.
Water sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in wet meadows, streambanks, and alpine areas throughout the northern Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Modoc Plateau at elevations from 1,500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this sedge produces pale green to white flowers in open, leaf-like inflorescences with white-tipped bracts. Growing in dense clumps with slender, slightly curved stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms extensive patches in moist environments. Its leaves are narrow, bright green, and grass-like, typically 3 to 6 millimeters wide, with prominent veins and a soft, flexible texture. The fruit is small, shiny, and nearly spherical, with a barely perceptible notched beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species - geographically isolated
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Nevada, Siskiyou, Shasta, Mariposa, Tulare, Yuba, Butte, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Madera, Sierra, Napa, Tehama, Del Norte, Trinity, San Mateo, Alpine
How to tell it apart
vs Juncus: Carex stems are triangular when rolled; Juncus stems are round and often hollow with partitions inside.; vs Cyperus: Carex has seeds in individual flasks; Cyperus has umbrella-like flower clusters with flattened ribbon-like spikes.; vs Plantago: Carex has triangular stems and brown/green spikelets; Plantago has round flower stalks and white/brown spike flowers.; vs Eleocharis: Carex has leaves along the stem; Eleocharis is nearly leafless with just one spikelet per stem.; vs Schoenoplectus: Carex has leafy stems and flask-enclosed seeds; Schoenoplectus has leafless round stems with exposed seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carex aquatilis native to California?
Yes. Carex aquatilis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex aquatilis grow?
Carex aquatilis occurs in Inyo, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Nevada and other counties.
What plant family does Carex aquatilis belong to?
Carex aquatilis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.