Carex hirtissima
Fuzzy sedge
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex hirtissima (Fuzzy sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by hairy appearance, wide leaves, and long-beaked perigynia.
Fuzzy sedge is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges including Mendocino and Lake counties, northern Sierra Nevada, and California Ranges in mixed-evergreen forest openings and disturbed wet places, often on serpentine, at elevations of 60 to 1,200 meters. Though lacking specific flowering time data, this sedge features dense, loosely clustered growth with stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall that are sparsely hairy. Growing in loose tufts with dense leaf blades 3 to 12 millimeters wide, the plant exhibits a distinctive appearance with terminal spikelet clusters. Its leaves are densely hairy with minute basal structures, creating a soft, textured profile. The fruit features pale green to gold-green perigynia with fine veining and a white-tipped, conic beak 1 millimeter or longer.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 100 sympatric species. Distinguished by hairy appearance, wide leaves, and long-beaked perigynia.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings, mixed-evergreen forest, disturbed wet places, often on serpentine
Elevation: 60-1200 m
California counties: El Dorado, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Tuolumne, Nevada, Mendocino, Mariposa, Sierra, San Luis Obispo
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 hirtissima native to California?
Yes. Carex hirtissima is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex hirtissima grow?
Carex hirtissima occurs in El Dorado, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Tuolumne, Nevada, Mendocino, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 60-1200 m.
What plant family does Carex hirtissima belong to?
Carex hirtissima is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex hirtissima grow in?
Carex hirtissima grows in Openings, mixed-evergreen forest, disturbed wet places, often on 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.