Isolepis levynsiana
(c) Charles Stirton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Charles Stirton · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Isolepis levynsiana is a non-native California annual in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by tiny size (1-6 cm) and distinctive white flower bracts with conspicuous lateral veins.
Isolepis levynsiana is a naturalized annual found in northern coastal California including Mendocino and Sonoma counties in damp, mossy openings of coastal forest at approximately 100 meters elevation. Flowering in early spring, this diminutive plant produces tiny dull white flowers with a reddish or yellowish tint in small linear-oblong spikelets 4 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with extremely short stems just 1 to 6 centimeters tall, it forms delicate compact clusters with few leaves. Its lance-ovate flower bracts are notable for having 4 to 5 conspicuous lateral veins on each side. The tiny fruit is three-sided and finely textured, measuring less than one millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are tiny size (1-6 cm) and distinctive white flower bracts with conspicuous lateral veins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp, mossy openings in coastal forest
Elevation: +- 100 m.
Outside California: southern Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand
Bloom period
Isolepis levynsiana blooms Early spring.
How to tell it apart
vs Eleocharis: Isolepis has multiple parallel veins in its bracts; Eleocharis bracts have just a single midvein.; vs Juncus: Isolepis flowers grow in spikelets with overlapping scales; Juncus has separate flowers with 6 perianth parts.; vs Carex: Isolepis has bisexual flowers in open spikelets; Carex has separate male/female flowers in enclosed sacs.; vs Triglochin: Isolepis has scaly spikelets typical of sedges; Triglochin has spike-like flower clusters with capsules.; vs Lipocarpha: Isolepis has one bract per flower; Lipocarpha has two nested bracts (inner and outer) per flower.
Frequently asked questions
Is Isolepis levynsiana native to California?
No. Isolepis levynsiana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Isolepis levynsiana bloom?
Isolepis levynsiana blooms Early spring.
What plant family does Isolepis levynsiana belong to?
Isolepis levynsiana is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Isolepis.
What habitat does Isolepis levynsiana grow in?
Isolepis levynsiana grows in Damp, mossy openings in coastal forest.
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.