Carex schottii
Schott's sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex schottii (Schott's sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by tall stature with very long nodding lateral spikelets.
Schott's sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in northern coastal California, San Francisco Bay Area, southern California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in streambanks, wet meadows, and swamps at elevations below 2,500 meters. This sedge forms dense clumps with stems 75 to 150 centimeters tall, featuring leaf blades 4 to 12 millimeters wide with distinctive red-dotted leaf sheaths. Its complex inflorescence includes 2 to 7 staminate spikelets, with lateral spikelets up to 20 centimeters long and roughly 5 to 7 millimeters wide, often slightly nodding. Its leaves have basal sheaths that are scabrous in the back and fibrous, with bladeless sheaths wider than 7 millimeters at midlength. The fruit is golden to brown, with perigynia 2.7 to 4.5 millimeters long and a tiny beak less than half a millimeter in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 86 sympatric species; diagnostic tall stature with very long nodding lateral spikelets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows, swamps
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Solano, San Benito, Alameda
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 schottii native to California?
Yes. Carex schottii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex schottii grow?
Carex schottii occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Carex schottii belong to?
Carex schottii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex schottii grow in?
Carex schottii grows in Streambanks, wet meadows, swamps.
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.