Cyperus laevigatus
Smooth cyperus
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Cyperus laevigatus (Smooth cyperus) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by white bracts with red markings and alkaline habitat distinctive.
Smooth cyperus is a California native perennial found in southwestern, Great Basin, and desert bioregions in alkaline or brackish wet soils, hot springs, and permanent pools in arroyos at elevations of 30 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from July to December, this plant produces flowers with white bracts speckled or marked with distinctive red spots. Growing in clumps with horizontal rhizomes, it forms delicate stems reaching up to 60 centimeters tall. Its leaf blades are sparse, measuring up to 7 centimeters long, with subtle inflorescence bracts extending 1 to 10 centimeters. The fruit is a small, dark brown to nearly black oblong-elliptic seed approximately 1.2 to 1.8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; white bracts with red markings and alkaline habitat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline or brackish, wet soils, hot springs, permanent pools in arroyos
Elevation: 30-1000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara
Outside California: to Texas, North Carolina, Mexico, scattered in tropics, warm temperate worldwide
Bloom period
Cyperus laevigatus blooms Jul-Dec.
How to tell it apart
vs Carex: Cyperus has umbrella clusters with flat spikes; Carex has brown/green spikelets with seeds in individual flasks.; vs Scirpus: Cyperus has flattened ribbon-like spikes; Scirpus has rounded, cylindrical spikelets.; vs Juncus: Cyperus has triangular stems and flat flower spikes; Juncus has round stems and individual flowers.; vs Sticherus: Cyperus is a sedge with triangular stem; Sticherus is a fern with fronds.; vs Eleusine: Cyperus has triangular stems; Eleusine is a grass with round stems and obvious grass flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyperus laevigatus native to California?
Yes. Cyperus laevigatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cyperus laevigatus bloom?
Cyperus laevigatus blooms Jul-Dec.
Where in California does Cyperus laevigatus grow?
Cyperus laevigatus occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of 30-1000 m.
What plant family does Cyperus laevigatus belong to?
Cyperus laevigatus is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Cyperus.
What habitat does Cyperus laevigatus grow in?
Cyperus laevigatus grows in Alkaline or brackish, wet soils, hot springs, permanent pools in arroyos.
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.