Carex fracta
Fragile-sheathed sedge, Fragile-Sheathed Sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex fracta (Fragile-sheathed sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by translucent ribbed sheaths and pale inflorescence diagnostic.
Fragile-sheathed sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in montane meadows, open forests, and moist or dry soil at elevations of 250 to 3,300 meters. Its inflorescence appears predominantly white or green, with dense clusters of spikelets 2.5 to 8 centimeters long. Growing with distinctive sedge-like form, the plant develops leafy stems with blades 2.5 to 6 millimeters wide and translucent leaf sheaths that are ribbed in the lower half. Its leaves feature a prominent contraligule typically 5 to 13 millimeters long, with pistillate flower bracts that are predominantly white with green to gold centers. The fruit is small, with pale green to gold perigynia that are ovate and planoconvex, measuring 1.2 to 1.6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 120 sympatric species; translucent ribbed sheaths and pale inflorescence diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Montane meadows, open forests, edges, roadsides, moist or dry soil
Elevation: 250-3300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Mariposa, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Tulare, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Mono, Monterey, Nevada, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Kern, Amador, Alpine, Sierra, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, Del Norte, Calaveras, Lassen, Madera, Ventura, Yuba, Glenn, Inyo, Sacramento
Outside California: to Washington
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 fracta native to California?
Yes. Carex fracta is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex fracta grow?
Carex fracta occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Mariposa, Placer, Plumas, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of 250-3300 m.
What plant family does Carex fracta belong to?
Carex fracta is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex fracta grow in?
Carex fracta grows in Common. Montane meadows, open forests, edges, roadsides, moist or dry soil.
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.