Carex livida

Livid sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2A

Livid sedge is a rare (CNPS 2A) California native perennial found in the northern California coastal region, specifically Mendocino County, in Sphagnum swamps and peatland at elevations below 100 meters. While flowering time is not specified, this sedge produces stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall with bluish-green, channeled leaf blades 1 to 3.5 millimeters wide. Growing with rhizomatous roots, it forms dense clumps with distinctive glaucous foliage that appears slightly bluish-green. Its leaves are narrow and folded, with pistillate flower bracts in shades of red-brown adding subtle color to the plant's appearance. The fruit is elliptic, green to glaucous, with a wide-conic tip and measuring 2 to 3.5 millimeters long.

Habitat: Sphagnum swamps, peatland

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: NCo (Mendocino Co.)

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