Carex leptalea

Bristle-stalked sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Bristle-stalked sedge is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern coastal, Klamath Ranges, and north-central coastal regions in wet meadows and swamps at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering in spring and summer, this sedge produces small white to reddish-brown flowers in delicate spikes approximately 2 to 3 millimeters wide. Growing with slender rhizomatous stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant forms dense, fine-textured clumps in moist environments. Its narrow leaves are flat or slightly folded, measuring just 0.5 to 1 millimeter wide and typically equal to or slightly shorter than the flowering stalks. The plant produces small fruits 1.3 to 1.8 millimeters long with multiple fine green to straw-colored perigynia.

Habitat: Wet meadows, swamps

Elevation: < 700 m

Bioregions: NCo, KR, NCoRO, CCo (extirpated)

California counties: Marin, Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte

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