Carex disperma
Two-seeded sedge, Two-Seeded Sedge
(c) Mary Krieger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex disperma (Two-seeded sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive sparse arrangement with few perigynia.
Two-seeded sedge is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, high Cascade Range, and White and Inyo Mountains in wet streamsides and lake margins at elevations of 1,100 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this sedge produces light green spikelets with white-margined bracts arranged in small, open clusters. Growing with slender rhizomatous stems, it forms delicate tufts with narrow leaf blades less than 2 millimeters wide. Its leaves are fine and grass-like, with each plant producing 3 to 4 spikelets that have distinctive staminate tips. The small fruits are compact, approximately 1 to 2 millimeters long, with light to yellow-green perigynia that are finely veined on both sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 98 sympatric species; distinctive sparse arrangement with few perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet streamsides, lake margins
Elevation: 1100-3400 m
California counties: Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Madera, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Butte, Shasta, Mariposa
Outside California: to northern Canada, eastern North 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 disperma native to California?
Yes. Carex disperma is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex disperma grow?
Carex disperma occurs in Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, El Dorado, Madera, Mono, Nevada, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 1100-3400 m.
What plant family does Carex disperma belong to?
Carex disperma is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex disperma grow in?
Carex disperma grows in Wet streamsides, lake margins.
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.