Carex diandra
Lesser tussock sedge, Lesser Tussock Sedge
(c) Марина Садыкова, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex diandra (Lesser tussock sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by stiff inflorescence and shiny brown perigynia.
Lesser tussock sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, California High Cascades, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in marshy meadows and peaty lake shores at elevations of 150 to 2,400 meters. Its inflorescences are compact and stiff, typically 2 to 5 centimeters long and less than 1.5 centimeters wide, with reddish-dotted leaf sheaths and white sheath margins. Growing in dense tufts with slender stems, this sedge produces narrow leaves 1 to 3 millimeters wide and short ligules less than twice as long as they are wide. Its leaf sheaths feature distinctive red dots, and the plant forms tight, clustered growth with multiple spikelets at lower nodes. The fruit is small, brown, and shiny, with a pale central groove and a white abaxial flap at the tip of its short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 110 sympatric species; distinguished by stiff inflorescence and shiny brown perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshy meadows, peaty lake shores
Elevation: 150-2400 m
California counties: El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Modoc, San Bernardino, Tulare, Plumas, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Shasta, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside
Outside California: sporadic in western North America
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 diandra native to California?
Yes. Carex diandra is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex diandra grow?
Carex diandra occurs in El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Modoc, San Bernardino, Tulare, Plumas, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 150-2400 m.
What plant family does Carex diandra belong to?
Carex diandra is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex diandra grow in?
Carex diandra grows in Marshy meadows, peaty lake shores.
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.