Carex exsiccata
Western inflated sedge
(c) Hilary Rose Dawson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex exsiccata (Western inflated sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by very large inflated perigynia diagnostic.
Western inflated sedge is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, southern Klamath Range, central coastal, and San Francisco Bay Area regions in wet places at elevations below 1,800 meters. With limited flowering time details, the plant produces gold to purple-tinged bracts surrounding its inflorescence. Growing with sharp-angled stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are rough near the flower clusters, it develops short or absent rhizomes. Its leaves are 2.5 to 6.2 millimeters wide, with fibrous leaf sheaths on lower stems and ligules longer than they are wide. The fruits are small, measuring 1.7 to 3 millimeters long, with perigynia arranged in open rows and tapering to a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 102 sympatric species; very large inflated perigynia diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: Mendocino, Sonoma, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, San Mateo, Trinity, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Plumas, Siskiyou, El Dorado
Outside California: to Alaska, 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 exsiccata native to California?
Yes. Carex exsiccata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex exsiccata grow?
Carex exsiccata occurs in Mendocino, Sonoma, Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, San Mateo, Trinity, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Carex exsiccata belong to?
Carex exsiccata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex exsiccata grow in?
Carex exsiccata grows in Wet places.
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.