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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Carex spissa

Carex spissa L.H. Bailey

San Diego Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CASP6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A large sedge with a loose, bunched habit. Culms rise slightly above the grass-like leaves to a height of 3-6 ft.

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Texture: Leathery
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Spike
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period for Carex spp.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA
Native Distribution: S. CA
Native Habitat: Wooded waterways in hills & canyons; sea level to 2000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FAC
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Carex spissa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Carex spissa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex spissa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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