Lipocarpha aristulata

Awned halfchaff sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: annual · Native

Awned halfchaff sedge is a California native annual found in northern California coastal ranges and Sacramento Valley in wet soil at elevations of 100 to 400 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces small spikes with subtle light red-brown to black fruits. Growing with delicate stems 2 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms compact ovoid to cylindrical inflorescences. Its flower bracts feature distinctive awns 0.5 to 1 millimeter long, with outer bracts slightly shorter than the papillate fruits. The tiny fruits are widest just below their tips, creating a unique textural profile in wet soil environments.

Habitat: Wet soil

Bloom period: Aug-Sep

Elevation: 100-400 m

Bioregions: NCoRO, ScV

California counties: Shasta, Butte, Sacramento, Tehama, Humboldt, Merced

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.