Carex buxbaumii
Buxbaum's sedge
(c) Trevor Edmonson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Edmonson · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Carex buxbaumii (Buxbaum's sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by terminal spike pistillate above and papillate gray-green perigynia.
Buxbaum's sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Central Coast bioregions in peatlands and wet meadows at elevations up to 3,300 meters. Flowering time not specified in source data, this sedge has discrete spikelets with purple or brown flower bracts. Growing with rhizomatous roots and stems 25 to 100 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters in moist habitats. Its leaves are narrow, with blades 1.5 to 4 millimeters wide, and lower leaf sheaths featuring distinctive fibrous textures. The fruit is small, approximately 1.4 to 2.1 millimeters long, with a papillate, gray-green perigynia that has a very short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 116 sympatric species; terminal spike pistillate above and papillate gray-green perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Peatland, wet meadows
Elevation: < 3300 m
California counties: Humboldt, Inyo, Marin, Sonoma, Mono, Tuolumne, Tulare, Plumas, Siskiyou, Glenn, Trinity, Tehama, Nevada
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, Eurasia
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 buxbaumii native to California?
Yes. Carex buxbaumii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex buxbaumii grow?
Carex buxbaumii occurs in Humboldt, Inyo, Marin, Sonoma, Mono, Tuolumne, Tulare, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of < 3300 m.
What plant family does Carex buxbaumii belong to?
Carex buxbaumii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex buxbaumii rare or endangered?
Carex buxbaumii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Carex buxbaumii grow in?
Carex buxbaumii grows in Peatland, wet meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.