Carex deflexa var. boottii
Mountain mat sedge
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Carex deflexa var. boottii (Mountain mat sedge) is a native California perennial in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by low spreading habit.
Mountain mat sedge is a native perennial sedge found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Modoc Plateau, White and Inyo Mountains, and desert mountains in dry forest, meadows, and rocky subalpine slopes at elevations up to 3,800 meters. Growing with loosely clustered stems 3 to 30 centimeters tall that spread or arch and have a slightly fibrous base, this sedge has pale green leaves less than 3.2 millimeters wide. Its leaves are stiff and somewhat flat, typically matching or slightly exceeding the height of the plant's inflorescence. The leaf blades emerge in a pale green color, with stems that can be glabrous or slightly rough near the base of the inflorescence. Its delicate structure includes pale to dark red-brown flower bracts without an awn, creating a subtle, mat-like appearance characteristic of its alpine and subalpine habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 131 sympatric species; distinguished by low spreading habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry forest, meadows, rocky subalpine slopes
Elevation: < 3800 m
California counties: El Dorado, Siskiyou, Alpine, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Plumas, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Placer, Trinity, Nevada, Tehama, Riverside, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Shasta, Lassen
Outside California: to northern Canada, Colorado
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 deflexa var. boottii native to California?
Yes. Carex deflexa var. boottii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex deflexa var. boottii grow?
Carex deflexa var. boottii occurs in El Dorado, Siskiyou, Alpine, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of < 3800 m.
What plant family does Carex deflexa var. boottii belong to?
Carex deflexa var. boottii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex deflexa var. boottii grow in?
Carex deflexa var. boottii grows in dry forest, meadows, rocky subalpine slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.