Carex brevicaulis
Short-stemmed sedge
(c) Flavien Saboureau, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Flavien Saboureau · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex brevicaulis (Short-stemmed sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by very short stature, sickle leaves, and coastal habitat.
Short-stemmed sedge is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast and central Coast Ranges in coastal dunes, headlands, and rocky or sandy soil at elevations below 400 meters. Without specific flowering time data, this sedge forms dense turflike colonies with bright green, sickle-shaped leaves that are stiff and generally folded. Growing with scabrous stems 3 to 15 centimeters tall, the plant develops short rhizomes with occasionally fibrous stem bases. Its leaves are narrow, 1 to 3.5 millimeters wide, and distinctively curve like a sickle, rising above the plant's inflorescence. The plant produces pistillate spikelets with bracts tinged red-brown, which are obtuse to short-awned.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 52 sympatric species; very short stature, sickle leaves, and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes, headlands, rocky or sandy soil
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Humboldt, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, Sonoma, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Napa, El Dorado
Outside California: to British Columbia
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 brevicaulis native to California?
Yes. Carex brevicaulis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex brevicaulis grow?
Carex brevicaulis occurs in Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Humboldt, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Carex brevicaulis belong to?
Carex brevicaulis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex brevicaulis grow in?
Carex brevicaulis grows in Coastal dunes, headlands, rocky or sandy soil.
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.