Carex inversa

Kangaroo or knob sedge, Kangaroo Sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Kangaroo or knob sedge is a naturalized perennial sedge found in the Sacramento Valley and Peninsular Ranges in damp or disturbed areas, riparian zones, and grassy habitats at elevations below 750 meters. Its inflorescence consists of dense, compact clusters with spikelets 5 to 10 millimeters long, typically with staminate flowers at the base. Growing in tufted clusters with rhizomes, this sedge produces stems 5 to 50 centimeters tall with narrow leaves less than 4 millimeters wide. Its leaves are shorter than the stems, with distinctive pistillate flower bracts that are white with green midveins. The fruit is small and elliptic, with a shiny green to pale brown perigynia that has 3 to 8 prominent veins and a short beak.

Habitat: Damp or disturbed bare ground, riparian zones, thickets, grassy areas

Elevation: < 750 m

Bioregions: ScV, PR

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