Taxon Report

Carex leptalea Wahl.

bristle-stalked sedge

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Taxon Summary

Carex leptalea, commonly known as bristle-stalked sedge, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Cyperaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Bogs and fens, Marshes and swamps, and Meadows and seeps (mesic), growing at elevations from 0 to 700 meters. Carex leptalea is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Carex leptalea Wahl.
Common Name:	bristle-stalked sedge
Family:	Cyperaceae
Element Code:	PMCYP037E0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CALE10
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Jul	Mar-Jul
Elevation:	0-700 (0-2295)
General Habitats:	Bogs and fens, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	IUCN_LC
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	2
Unknown (U)	3

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Marin (MRN)*, Trinity (TRI)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cant Hook Mtn. (4112368), Crannell (4112411), Drakes Bay (3812218), Fields Landing (4012462), Trinidad (4112412), Trinity Center (4012286)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	7
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	5	63 %
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime	2	25%
Foot traffic/trampling	2	25%
Non-native plant impacts	2	25%
Other	1	12%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	12%
Logging	1	12%
Dam/Inundation	1	12%

Notes




Threats:
Threatened by hydrological alterations, logging, and non-native plants. Apparently extirpated in MRN Co. by wetland conversion. Sensitive in ID.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Carex leptalea profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2017)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 October 2025].