Carex filifolia var. erostrata
Sagebrush sedge, Sagebrush Sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Carex filifolia var. erostrata (Sagebrush sedge) is a native California perennial in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by thread-like leaves and beakless perigynia vs. var. filifolia.
Sagebrush sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, Warner Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in meadow habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 3,700 meters. The plant features short stems growing 5 to 25 centimeters tall, with leaves that either match or slightly exceed the length of its inflorescence. Its leaf structure is distinctive, with narrow leaf blades that create a delicate, fine-textured appearance across meadow landscapes. The sedge produces small pistillate flower bracts less than 2.5 millimeters long, with a compact fruit structure measuring 1.6 to 2.4 millimeters in length and featuring a subtly narrowed beak. The plant's perigynia, measuring 1.9 to 3 millimeters long, occasionally ruptures as the fruit develops, adding to its intriguing botanical characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 95 sympatric species; thread-like leaves and beakless perigynia vs. var. filifolia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows
Elevation: 1500-3700 m
California counties: Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mono, Amador, Nevada, Alpine, San Bernardino, Sierra, El Dorado, Lassen, Plumas, Modoc, Madera, Placer, Calaveras
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
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 filifolia var. erostrata native to California?
Yes. Carex filifolia var. erostrata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex filifolia var. erostrata grow?
Carex filifolia var. erostrata occurs in Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mono, Amador, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3700 m.
What plant family does Carex filifolia var. erostrata belong to?
Carex filifolia var. erostrata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex filifolia var. erostrata grow in?
Carex filifolia var. erostrata grows in Meadows.
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.