Carex globosa
Round-fruited sedge
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex globosa (Round-fruited sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by long-stalked basal spikelets and strongly ribbed perigynia distinctive.
Round-fruited sedge is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, central western, and southwestern bioregions in well-drained wooded areas and forest edges at elevations up to 1,800 meters. Its flowering characteristics are not specified in the source data, so no bloom details can be provided. Growing with loosely clustered stems 15 to 47 centimeters tall, this sedge develops green leaf blades 1 to 5 millimeters wide with basal sheaths ranging from brown to reddish. Its leaves are distinctive, with green coloration and potential papillate veins on the underside when viewed at high magnification. The fruit is white, approximately 1.9 to 2.5 millimeters long, with a strongly veined perigynia that is obovoid in shape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 96 sympatric species; long-stalked basal spikelets and strongly ribbed perigynia distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Well-drained soil of wooded areas, edges
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Riverside, Santa Clara, Napa, Lake, Contra Costa, Siskiyou, Del Norte, San Mateo, Orange, Nevada, Butte, Placer, Tehama
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 globosa native to California?
Yes. Carex globosa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex globosa grow?
Carex globosa occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego, Sonoma, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Carex globosa belong to?
Carex globosa is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex globosa grow in?
Carex globosa grows in Well-drained soil of wooded areas, edges.
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.