Carex alma
Sturdy sedge, Sturdy Sedge
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex alma (Sturdy sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by dioecious habit and white-margined bracts.
Sturdy sedge is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tehachapi, San Joaquin Valley, southern Coastal Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, desert mountains, and Mojave Desert in springs and streambank habitats at elevations of 120 to 2,600 meters. This sedge produces distinctive white-margined pistillate flower bracts with awns in spikelets that are 2.5 to 15 centimeters long and 1 to 2 centimeters wide. Growing in dense, cespitose to rhizomatous clusters with stems forming tufted clumps, it develops leaves 3 to 6 millimeters wide that have red-dotted sheaths. Its leaves are characterized by occasionally cross-wrinkled surfaces and distinctive blade structures. The fruit is ovate, 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long, with a gold to dark brown perigynia that has a serrate or ciliate beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 63 sympatric species; dioecious habit and white-margined bracts are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Springs, streambanks
Elevation: 120-2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, Kern, Fresno, Monterey, Tulare, Inyo, Orange, San Diego, Ventura, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Del Norte, Nevada, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Placer
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Baja California
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 alma native to California?
Yes. Carex alma is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex alma grow?
Carex alma occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, Kern, Fresno, Monterey, Tulare, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 120-2600 m.
What plant family does Carex alma belong to?
Carex alma is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex alma grow in?
Carex alma grows in Springs, streambanks.
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.