Carex aurea
Golden sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex aurea (Golden sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by bright orange mature perigynia are unique in California.
Golden sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Modoc Plateau, northern eastern Sierra Nevada, White and Inyo Mountains, and desert mountains in wet meadows and streambanks at elevations of 1,100 to 3,300 meters. Distinctive for its unique bright orange mature fruit, this sedge produces spikes with mixed staminate and pistillate flowers. Growing with narrow leaves 2 to 4 millimeters wide, it forms erect to nodding lateral spikes 4 to 20 millimeters long. Its leaves have inflorescence bracts with U-shaped sheaths exceeding 4.5 millimeters in length. The fruit develops as small spheric perigynia 1.3 to 2 millimeters long, maturing from green or white to a striking bright orange color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 117 sympatric species; bright orange mature perigynia are unique in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, streambanks
Elevation: 1100-3300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Tulare, Inyo, Los Angeles, Butte, Fresno, Glenn, Modoc, Plumas, Tehama, Trinity, Humboldt, El Dorado, Siskiyou, Madera, Lassen, Alpine, Tuolumne, Santa Clara, Ventura, Placer, Nevada, Mariposa, Shasta, Lake, Napa, Yuba, Colusa, Sierra
Outside California: to British Columbia, northeastern North America, Utah, New Mexico
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 aurea native to California?
Yes. Carex aurea is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex aurea grow?
Carex aurea occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Tulare, Inyo, Los Angeles, Butte, Fresno, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of 1100-3300 m.
What plant family does Carex aurea belong to?
Carex aurea is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex aurea grow in?
Carex aurea grows in Wet meadows, 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.