Carex leporina
Hare or oval sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex leporina (Hare or oval sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by spikelet shape and perigynium characteristics.
Hare sedge is a California native perennial found in northern coastal ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in seasonally wet soils at elevations below 1,200 meters. Producing distinctive spikelets with red-gold, brown, or greenish bracts, the sedge has delicate flower structures that emerge with subtle coloration. Growing with slender stems and flat leaf blades 1.5 to 4 millimeters wide, this sedge develops occasionally late-season leafy branches from its nodes. Its leaf blades feature short ligules generally less than 2.5 millimeters long, with spikelets that are ovate to wide-ovate and distinctly shaped. The fruit develops as a small, sessile structure approximately 1.1 to 1.8 millimeters long, with a wide-ovate perigynia in gold to light brown tones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 63 sympatric species; key features are spikelet shape and perigynium characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Seasonally wet soil
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sacramento
Outside California: to British Columbia, alien in eastern United States, Eurasia
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 leporina native to California?
Yes. Carex leporina is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex leporina grow?
Carex leporina occurs in Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sacramento, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Carex leporina belong to?
Carex leporina is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex leporina grow in?
Carex leporina grows in Seasonally wet soil.
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.