Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa
Lakeshore sedge, Lakeshore Sedge
(c) Jason Sturner, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa (Lakeshore sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by green perigynia with prominent veining and moderate stalk length.
Lakeshore sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in wet habitats at elevations to 3,600 meters. The sedge produces spikelets 3 to 4 millimeters wide with distinctive green perigynia featuring 5 to 7 prominent veins on each side. Growing with clustered stems forming dense tufts, this sedge has a characteristic appearance in moist environments. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typical of sedge species, creating dense clumps in wetland areas. The fruit is small, measuring 1 to 1.7 millimeters long with a green body and a purple-tipped beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 129 sympatric species. Distinguished by green perigynia with prominent veining and moderate stalk length.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places
Elevation: < 3600 m
California counties: Tehama, Alpine, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Del Norte, Calaveras, Amador, Lassen, Modoc, San Francisco
Outside California: to Alaska, Rocky Mountains
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 var. lipocarpa native to California?
Yes. Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa grow?
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa occurs in Tehama, Alpine, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Madera, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of < 3600 m.
What plant family does Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa belong to?
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa grow in?
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa 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.