Carex unilateralis
One-sided sedge, One-Sided Sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex unilateralis (One-sided sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive pseudolateral inflorescence.
One-sided sedge is a California native perennial found in northern coastal and northern coastal ranges of California in seasonally wet places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering in spring and early summer, this sedge produces subtle gold to reddish-brown flower spikelets in dense clusters 10 to 25 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact tufts with narrow upright leaves. Its leaves are distinctively narrow, measuring 2 to 5 millimeters wide, with ligules 2.5 to 8 millimeters long that appear leaf-like and clasping the stem. The fruit develops as small perigynia 1.5 to 1.9 millimeters long, with an ascending ovate shape and delicate green to gold coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 66 sympatric species; distinctive pseudolateral inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Seasonally wet places
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Lake, Mariposa
Outside California: to British Columbia
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 unilateralis native to California?
Yes. Carex unilateralis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex unilateralis grow?
Carex unilateralis occurs in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Lake, Mariposa, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Carex unilateralis belong to?
Carex unilateralis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex unilateralis grow in?
Carex unilateralis grows in Seasonally wet places.
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.