Carex luzulina
Woodrush sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex luzulina (Woodrush sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by long-exserted lowest spikelet and variable perigynium colors.
Woodrush sedge is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and Warner Mountains in wet meadows, seeps, creekbanks, and bogs at elevations of 800 to 3,200 meters. Its inflorescences feature lateral spikelets in shades of purple, with pistillate flower bracts generally red-brown to dark purple. Growing in dense tufts or with short rhizomes, the sedge produces stems 15 to 90 centimeters tall with brown bases. Its leaves are narrow, 1.5 to 10 millimeters wide, well developed on lower flowering stems. The fruit is distinctive, with perigynia 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters long in shades of green, red-brown, or dark purple, with ovate to lanceolate bodies and occasional sparse, soft hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 132 sympatric species; long-exserted lowest spikelet and variable perigynium colors
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, seeps, creekbanks, bogs
Elevation: 800-3200 m
California counties: Plumas, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Tehama, Trinity, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Glenn, Marin, Siskiyou, Shasta, Nevada, Colusa, Sierra, Butte, Modoc, Inyo, Fresno, Humboldt, Del Norte, Mono, Tulare, Alpine, Lake, Tuolumne
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming
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 luzulina native to California?
Yes. Carex luzulina is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex luzulina grow?
Carex luzulina occurs in Plumas, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Tehama, Trinity, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 800-3200 m.
What plant family does Carex luzulina belong to?
Carex luzulina is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex luzulina grow in?
Carex luzulina grows in Wet meadows, seeps, creekbanks, bogs.
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.