Unknown Plant Growing on Nanwalek Beach

Observation: A community member brought this to me at the Nanwalek Tribal Environmental Program. It is a plant that we have never seen in their village and was found growing abundantly on the Nanwalek beach.

LEO says: This may be Carex macrocephala, commonly known as "big headed sedge" or "largehead sedge." It is a native plant to Alaska and British Columbia, found in sandy shore areas. The plants are usually small, with large spikes relative to their size. Leaves ware long and thin, and curve downward. Source: USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Largehead Sedge species profile.

Cooperative Extension Service Consult: Gino Graziano, Invasive Plants Instructor, writes: "I agree that this plant looks like largehead sedge, Carex macrocephala. Under the right conditions sedges can become quite abundant." University of Alaska Fairbanks