Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast in Washington; Alaska to Oregon; northern Pacific Rim.
Habitat: Sandy saltwater beaches and dunes.
Flowers: June-July
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Perennial grass-like herb to 30 cm tall, from buried rhizomes.
narrow, grass-like, to over 30 cm long, from base of stem.
Tiny and inconspicuous, lacking petals, with male and femal flowers on separate plants; in large dense spikes 3-8 cm long at tip of stem.
Achene, enclosed by a papery sheath (perigynia)
A very distinctive species for a sedge; its coastal habitat and large dense spikes are unmistakable.
Publication: Syst. Veg. 3: 808. 1826.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Carex macrocephala in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Carex macrocephala checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Carex macrocephala information.
E-Flora BC: Carex macrocephala atlas page.
CalPhotos: Carex macrocephala photos.
USDA Plants: Carex macrocephala information.
