Carex comosa

Bristly sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Bristly sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California foothills, Central Valley, northern Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, San Bernardino Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in wet places at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from May to September (though no specific flower color is noted in the source data), this sedge forms loosely clustered stems 50 to 100 centimeters tall with distinctive nodding lower spikes. Growing with upright, robust stems, it develops long, drooping stalks that support its unique inflorescence. Its leaves have ligules approximately equal to or less than their width, with pistillate flower bracts typically white or cream with pale reddish centers. The fruit is notable for its spreading, shiny perigynia 5 to 7.5 millimeters long, ranging from green to gold with beak teeth 1.3 to 2.8 millimeters long that curve or spread outward.

Habitat: Wet places

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoRI, CaRH, GV, n CCo (Bodega Bay), SnFrB, SnBr, MP (Shasta Co.)

California counties: San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Lake, San Bernardino, Shasta, San Francisco, Sonoma, Mendocino, Sacramento, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.