Carex obispoensis

San luis obispo sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

San luis obispo sedge is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native sedge found in the central coastal region of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties in chaparral and spring or streamside habitats at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering time is not specified in the source data, so no bloom details can be included. Growing in dense clumps with sturdy stems reaching 60 to 180 centimeters tall, this sedge forms distinctive V-folded leaf blades 2.5 to 8 millimeters wide. Its leaf blades are narrow and structured, with upper lateral spikelets occasionally producing both staminate and pistillate flowers and lowest spikelets featuring long-exserted stalks. The fruit features sparse-hairy perigynia that are lanceolate, sharply three-angled, and generally fine red-dotted, with a stout beak approximately 2 millimeters long.

Habitat: Springs, streamsides in chaparral, generally on serpentine

Elevation: < 800 m

Bioregions: PR, SCoRO (Monterey, San Luis Obispo cos.).

California counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Diego

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