Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii
Engelmann's spikerush
(c) Matthew Sirotkin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii (Engelmann's spikerush) is a native California annual in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by 24 co-occurring species; bristles equal to fruit length.
Engelmann's spikerush is a California native annual found in the northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, northern Central Coast, and southern Coastal regions in fresh wet bare soil at elevations of 30 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from spring to fall, this delicate spikerush produces small, inconspicuous flowers in dense, narrow spikes. Growing with slender, bright green stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters in moist habitats. Its leaves are reduced to sheaths at the base of the stems, giving the plant a grass-like appearance. The fruit is accompanied by perianth bristles approximately equal in length to the fruit itself.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 co-occurring species; bristles equal to fruit length are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Fresh wet bare soil
Elevation: 30-2400 m
Outside California: to southern Canada, eastern United States
Bloom period
Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii blooms Spring-fall.
How to tell it apart
vs Carex: Eleocharis has single spikelet with no bracts below, Carex has leafy bracts and multiple spikes.; vs Isolepis: Eleocharis has no bracts below spikelet, Isolepis has conspicuous leaf-like bracts extending beyond flowers.; vs Schoenoplectus: Eleocharis has single terminal spikelet, Schoenoplectus has multiple spikelets in clusters.; vs Juncus: Eleocharis spikelets are flattened oval, Juncus flowers are round with visible petals in clusters.; vs Equisetum: Eleocharis has grass-like stems with flower spikelets, Equisetum has jointed hollow stems with cone-like structures.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii native to California?
Yes. Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii bloom?
Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii blooms Spring-fall.
What plant family does Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii belong to?
Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Eleocharis.
What habitat does Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii grow in?
Eleocharis engelmannii var. engelmannii grows in Fresh wet bare soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.