Rhynchospora alba

White beaked-rush

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

White beaked-rush is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) native perennial found in northern coastal California, the Klamath Ranges, and northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in boggy open sites at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces pale brown to white spikelets with acute tips in delicate clusters. Growing with slender stems less than one millimeter in diameter, it has three sharp, slightly rough angles that become more scabrous near the inflorescence. Its narrow leaves are 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters wide with minutely rough margins that add textural interest to the plant. The fruit features distinctive white to brown perianth bristles that extend beyond the small tubercle, creating an intricate and delicate appearance.

Habitat: Boggy open sites

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: < 2000 m

Bioregions: NCo (Mendocino Co.), KR (Trinity Co.), CaRH, n SNH (Plumas Co.), c SNH (Tuolumne Co.)

California counties: Sonoma, Mendocino, Plumas, Del Norte, Nevada, Trinity, Tuolumne

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