Carex lenticularis
Lakeshore sedge
(c) Jason Sturner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex lenticularis (Lakeshore sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Variable species with early-deciduous papillate perigynia and abruptly narrowed bases.
Lakeshore sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in moist habitats across various mountain and coastal bioregions. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces inconspicuous green spikelets with narrow, delicate flowers clustered in terminal and lateral arrangements. Growing in dense, tufted clumps with stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms compact, grass-like clusters with slender, pale green stems. Its leaves are narrow, typically 1 to 3.5 millimeters wide, with fine, blade-like textures emerging from the plant's base. The fruit is a small, early-deciduous perigynia with a short beak, typically green or white with occasional purple dots.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 132 sympatric species. Variable species with early-deciduous papillate perigynia and abruptly narrowed bases.
Habitat and range
California counties: El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, Tulare, Fresno, Mariposa, Modoc, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Madera, Humboldt, Tehama, Shasta, Amador, Placer, Yuba, Sierra
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 lenticularis native to California?
Yes. Carex lenticularis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex lenticularis grow?
Carex lenticularis occurs in El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, Tulare, Fresno, Mariposa, Modoc and other counties.
What plant family does Carex lenticularis belong to?
Carex lenticularis 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.