Carex idahoa

Idaho sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Idaho sedge is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the White Mountains in meadow habitats at elevations of 2,800 to 3,400 meters. Flowering time is not specified, but this sedge produces distinctive dark purple, brown, or black flower bracts with white margins. Growing with loosely clustered stems 25 to 40 centimeters tall, the plant has flat leaves 2 to 5 millimeters wide that are somewhat bluish-gray (glaucous). Its leaves form loose tufts with blades that are relatively narrow and pale in color. The fruit is small, about 1.3 to 2 millimeters long, with a pale yellow or brown perigynia featuring a slightly papillate upper body.

Habitat: Meadows

Elevation: 2800-3400 m

Bioregions: W&ampI (White Mtns)

California counties: Mono

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.