Carex brainerdii
Brainerd's sedge
(c) Colin J Pryor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex brainerdii (Brainerd's sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by glaucous leaves and barrel-shaped hairy perigynia are distinctive.
Brainerd's sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada in dry rocky areas and open forests at elevations of 600 to 2,800 meters. Growing in distinctive clumps connected by underground rhizomes, this sedge produces pale blue-green to gray-green leaves 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide with dark purple-red basal sheaths. Its stems reach 10 to 30 centimeters tall, forming compact clusters with characteristic staminate and pistillate spikelets that have green or red-banded flower bracts. The leaves have a unique papillate texture on their undersides and feature blades that extend beyond the bisexual inflorescence. Its fruits are barrel-shaped, typically tan or brown, measuring 2.1 to 2.5 millimeters long with hairy perigynia.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 109 sympatric species; glaucous leaves and barrel-shaped hairy perigynia are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry rocky areas, open forest
Elevation: 600-2800 m
California counties: Mendocino, Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Mariposa, Nevada, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Sierra, El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Kern, Lake, Tulare, Madera, Lassen, Modoc, Del Norte, Napa
Outside California: southern Oregon
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 brainerdii native to California?
Yes. Carex brainerdii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex brainerdii grow?
Carex brainerdii occurs in Mendocino, Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 600-2800 m.
What plant family does Carex brainerdii belong to?
Carex brainerdii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex brainerdii grow in?
Carex brainerdii grows in dry rocky areas, open forest.
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.