Carex capitata
Capitate sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex capitata (Capitate sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by single bisexual spike and quill-like leaves.
Capitate sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the Sierra Nevada, White and Inyo Mountains, and high Cascade Range in peatlands and moist alpine meadows at elevations of 1,200 to 3,900 meters. Occurring in loosely clustered groups with slender stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, this sedge produces distinctive spikes with brown pistillate flower bracts edged in white. Its leaves are exceptionally narrow, rolled into quill-like blades less than one millimeter wide that are distinctly shorter than the plant's inflorescence. The sedge develops small fruits 1 to 1.8 millimeters long, with pale green perigynia that have sharp edges and spread in an ascending pattern. Each plant develops two stigmas and forms dense, compact clusters characteristic of its capitate (head-like) growth pattern.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 98 sympatric species; single bisexual spike and quill-like leaves are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Peatlands, moist alpine meadows
Elevation: 1200-3900 m
California counties: Mono, Tulare, El Dorado, Fresno, Tuolumne, Inyo, Madera, Shasta, Nevada, Sierra, Tehama, Siskiyou, Butte, Plumas, Placer, Modoc, Alpine, Mariposa
Outside California: to Alaska, northeastern North America, South America, Eurasia
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 capitata native to California?
Yes. Carex capitata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex capitata grow?
Carex capitata occurs in Mono, Tulare, El Dorado, Fresno, Tuolumne, Inyo, Madera, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3900 m.
What plant family does Carex capitata belong to?
Carex capitata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex capitata grow in?
Carex capitata grows in Peatlands, moist alpine meadows.
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.