Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis
Water sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Water sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by red-dotted features and thick beak distinguish from var. dives.
Water sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California High Sierra, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in wet places at elevations below 3,200 meters. With subtle seasonal flowering, this sedge produces pale spikelets with lateral clusters 3 to 7 millimeters wide. Growing in clustered clumps with delicate stems, it forms dense ground-covering patches in moist habitats. Its distinctive leaf blades are 3 to 8 millimeters wide, with reddish-dotted or white sheaths and pale brown leaf margins. The fruit is characterized by slightly red-dotted or blotched perigynia measuring 2 to 3.6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 124 sympatric species; red-dotted features and thick beak distinguish from var. dives
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places
Elevation: < 3200 m
California counties: Mono, Modoc, San Bernardino, Alpine, Inyo, Siskiyou, Nevada, Butte, Placer, Lassen, El Dorado
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern Canada, northern Europe
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 var. aquatilis native to California?
Yes. Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis grow?
Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis occurs in Mono, Modoc, San Bernardino, Alpine, Inyo, Siskiyou, Nevada, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 3200 m.
What plant family does Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis belong to?
Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis grow in?
Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis grows in Wet places.
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.