Carex gracilior
Slender sedge
(c) Trevor Edmonson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Edmonson · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex gracilior (Slender sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by low elevation, open inflorescence, and shiny golden perigynia distinctive.
Slender sedge is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, central western California, northwestern southern California, and western Transverse Ranges in grasslands, creekbanks, and open forests at elevations below 850 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this sedge produces gold to red-brown flowers in open inflorescences 12 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with self-supporting stems and narrow leaves 1.2 to 3 millimeters wide, it forms delicate clumps in moist habitats. Its leaves feature a small ligule 1.5 to 2 millimeters long and distinctive gold to red-brown bracts surrounding the pistillate flowers. The fruit is small, approximately 1.7 to 2.3 millimeters long, with a shiny, narrow-ovate perigynia marked by gold coloration and a brown margin.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 128 sympatric species; low elevation, open inflorescence, and shiny golden perigynia distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, creekbanks, open forest, at least seasonally moist soil
Elevation: < 850 m
California counties: Butte, San Mateo, Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Yuba, Santa Barbara, Kern, Nevada, Calaveras, Humboldt, Lake, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, Shasta, Contra Costa, Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Tehama, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz
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 gracilior native to California?
Yes. Carex gracilior is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex gracilior grow?
Carex gracilior occurs in Butte, San Mateo, Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of < 850 m.
What plant family does Carex gracilior belong to?
Carex gracilior is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex gracilior grow in?
Carex gracilior grows in Grassland, creekbanks, open forest, at least seasonally moist 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.