Carex gynodynama
Wonder-woman sedge, Wonder-Woman Sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex gynodynama (Wonder-woman sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by hairy perigynia with purple spots diagnostic.
Wonder-woman sedge is a California native perennial found in northern coastal regions including the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and San Francisco Bay Area in moist meadows and open forests on serpentine soils at elevations below 600 meters. The sedge produces delicate reddish-brown to purple flower bracts with green midribs, creating subtle color variations in its terminal spikelet. Growing with loose, tufted stems 20 to 90 centimeters tall, this sedge develops hairy leaves 3 to 9 millimeters wide. Its distinctive leaves are softly textured, with blade surfaces covered in fine hairs that give the plant a subtle, textured appearance. The fruit is particularly notable, featuring a complex perigynia with purple splotches and red dots, creating an intricate surface texture measuring 2.3 to 2.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 107 sympatric species; hairy perigynia with purple spots diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows in open forest, serpentine
Elevation: < 600 m
California counties: Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Butte, San Mateo, Monterey, Alameda, Del Norte
Outside California: to southern Oregon
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 gynodynama native to California?
Yes. Carex gynodynama is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex gynodynama grow?
Carex gynodynama occurs in Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Butte, San Mateo, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 600 m.
What plant family does Carex gynodynama belong to?
Carex gynodynama is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex gynodynama grow in?
Carex gynodynama grows in Moist meadows in open forest, serpentine.
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.