Carex echinata subsp. echinata
Star sedge, Star Sedge
(c) Thomas Gyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Gyselinck · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex echinata subsp. echinata (Star sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by bog habitat and serrated perigynia distinctive from subsp. phyllomanica.
Star sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and San Bernardino Mountains in wet places, especially sphagnum bogs at elevations up to 3,200 meters. Its distinctive fruit clusters give the plant its name, with fine, narrow leaves typically 0.7 to 2.7 millimeters wide. Growing with delicate, clustered stems, this sedge forms compact tufts in moist mountain environments. Its leaf blades are slender and fine, creating a soft, feathery appearance in wetland habitats. The fruit is roughly round, approximately 1.1 to 1.6 millimeters long, with a serrated perimeter that adds textural complexity to its small-scale structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 122 sympatric species; bog habitat and serrated perigynia distinctive from subsp. phyllomanica
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places, especially sphagnum bogs
Elevation: < 3200 m
California counties: Mendocino, Butte, Fresno, Siskiyou, Tulare, San Bernardino, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Plumas, Tehama, Santa Cruz, Calaveras, Trinity, Mariposa, Inyo, Tuolumne, Kern, Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, Shasta, Madera, Lassen, Alpine
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, Central America, Eurasia, Australia
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 echinata subsp. echinata native to California?
Yes. Carex echinata subsp. echinata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex echinata subsp. echinata grow?
Carex echinata subsp. echinata occurs in Mendocino, Butte, Fresno, Siskiyou, Tulare, San Bernardino, Del Norte, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 3200 m.
What plant family does Carex echinata subsp. echinata belong to?
Carex echinata subsp. echinata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex echinata subsp. echinata grow in?
Carex echinata subsp. echinata grows in Wet places, especially sphagnum bogs.
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.