Carex abrupta
Abrupt-beaked sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex abrupta (Abrupt-beaked sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by abrupt beak and dense spherical inflorescence.
Abrupt-beaked sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Warner Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains, and Desert Mountains in meadows, open forest, and rocky slopes at elevations of 1,200 to 3,450 meters. Its inflorescence is dense and spheric to ovoid, ranging from green to brown, with spikes 10 to 22 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 18 to 66 centimeters tall without nodal branching, this sedge has distinctive leaf blades 1.5 to 3.7 millimeters wide with pale sheath faces. Its fruit is characterized by elliptic to lance-ovate perigynia that are pale to light brown, with a tapered beak 1 to 1.5 millimeters long and a distinctively unwinged tip extending more than 0.5 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 120 sympatric species; key features are abrupt beak and dense spherical inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, open forest, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1200-3450 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Siskiyou, Tulare, Inyo, Trinity, Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Madera, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Tuolumne, San Diego, Sierra, Butte, Riverside, Amador, Sonoma, Modoc, Mariposa, Glenn, Humboldt, Mendocino, Tehama, Placer
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada
How to tell it apart
vs Juncus: Carex stems are triangular when rolled; Juncus stems are round and often hollow with partitions inside.; vs Cyperus: Carex has seeds in individual flasks; Cyperus has umbrella-like flower clusters with flattened ribbon-like spikes.; vs Plantago: Carex has triangular stems and brown/green spikelets; Plantago has round flower stalks and white/brown spike flowers.; vs Eleocharis: Carex has leaves along the stem; Eleocharis is nearly leafless with just one spikelet per stem.; vs Schoenoplectus: Carex has leafy stems and flask-enclosed seeds; Schoenoplectus has leafless round stems with exposed seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carex abrupta native to California?
Yes. Carex abrupta is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex abrupta grow?
Carex abrupta occurs in Fresno, Mono, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Siskiyou, Tulare, Inyo, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3450 m.
What plant family does Carex abrupta belong to?
Carex abrupta is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex abrupta grow in?
Carex abrupta grows in Meadows, open forest, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.