Carex concinnoides
Northwestern sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex concinnoides (Northwestern sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by warty non-plumose stigmas and 2-ribbed perigynia.
Northwestern sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in dry to moist open forests and meadows at elevations of 15 to 900 meters. With a distinctive dark purple-red stem base, this sedge produces sparsely distributed spikes with purple spikelet bracts from spring to summer. Growing 15 to 35 centimeters tall with rhizomatous roots, it forms delicate clumps with sickle-shaped leaves 2 to 5 millimeters wide. Its leaves are characterized by a V-shaped sheath mouth and have an unusual ascending growth pattern, often matching or slightly exceeding the plant's inflorescence. The fruit is small, approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long, with a short purple-tipped beak and white to light brown perigynia.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 94 sympatric species; warty non-plumose stigmas and 2-ribbed perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry to moist open forest, meadows, often serpentine
Elevation: 15-900 m
California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou
Outside California: to western Canada, Montana
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 concinnoides native to California?
Yes. Carex concinnoides is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex concinnoides grow?
Carex concinnoides occurs in Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Siskiyou, at elevations of 15-900 m.
What plant family does Carex concinnoides belong to?
Carex concinnoides is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex concinnoides grow in?
Carex concinnoides grows in dry to moist open forest, meadows, often serpentine.
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.