Rhynchospora capitellata
Brownish beaked-rush
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Rhynchospora capitellata (Brownish beaked-rush) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Key features: brown spikelets, 5-7 perianth bristles with reflexed barbs, smooth fruit.
Brownish beaked-rush is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern and central Sierra Nevada in wet meadows, fens, seeps, and marshes at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces brown to dark-brown flowers in lance-elliptic spikelets 3.5 to 4 millimeters long. Growing with distinctive three-angled stems that are bluntly textured and minutely scabrous near the inflorescence, it forms delicate clumps in wet habitats. Its narrow leaves are less than 3 millimeters wide, with margins becoming minutely rough toward the leaf tips. The fruit features 5 to 7 perianth bristles with reflexed barbs, culminating in a small 1 to 1.5 millimeter tubercle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species. Key features: brown spikelets, 5-7 perianth bristles with reflexed barbs, smooth fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, fens, seeps, marshes
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Butte, Sonoma, El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas, Trinity, Mariposa, Yuba, Tuolumne
Outside California: eastern North America
Bloom period
Rhynchospora capitellata blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Fimbristylis: Rhynchospora seeds have prominent beaks on top, Fimbristylis seeds lack beaks.; vs Bulbostylis: Rhynchospora has multiple flower clusters along stem, Bulbostylis has single terminal cluster.; vs Bolboschoenus: Rhynchospora is delicate with stems under 2mm, Bolboschoenus is robust with thick three-angled stems.; vs Scirpus: Rhynchospora has few flowers per spikelet and beaked seeds, Scirpus has many flowers and unbeaked seeds.; vs Calliscirpus: Rhynchospora has small separate clusters, Calliscirpus has one tight congested ball.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhynchospora capitellata native to California?
Yes. Rhynchospora capitellata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rhynchospora capitellata bloom?
Rhynchospora capitellata blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Rhynchospora capitellata grow?
Rhynchospora capitellata occurs in Butte, Sonoma, El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas, Trinity, Mariposa, Yuba and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Rhynchospora capitellata belong to?
Rhynchospora capitellata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Rhynchospora.
Is Rhynchospora capitellata rare or endangered?
Rhynchospora capitellata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.