Scirpus diffusus

Diffuse rush

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Diffuse rush is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, southern Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada in meadows, marshes, and streambanks at elevations of 200 to 2,400 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces small spikelets in head-like clusters with green to brown or nearly black flower bracts. Growing with spreading stems 70 to 80 centimeters tall and 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter, it has a distinctive three-angled stem and long rhizome. Its leaves are wide, measuring 5 to 8 millimeters across, with no ligule and supporting delicate flower clusters. The fruit is tiny, measuring 0.9 to 1.3 millimeters long and three-angled, with perianth bristles that may be curled or straight.

Habitat: Meadows, marshes, streambanks

Bloom period: Jul

Elevation: 200-2400 m

Bioregions: KR, s CaR, SN.

California counties: Butte, Tulare, Fresno, Plumas, Nevada, Tuolumne, Lake, Tehama, Colusa, Calaveras, Humboldt, El Dorado, Madera, Placer

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