Carex infirminervia
Weakly veined sedge, Weakly Veined Sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex infirminervia (Weakly veined sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by jagged spikelets and long-tapered beaks comprising nearly half the perigynium length.
Weakly veined sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and high Sierra Nevada in moist wooded areas at elevations of 1,500 to 2,200 meters. Though no specific flowering time is recorded, this sedge forms distinctive clumps with stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall and leaf blades 2.5 to 5 millimeters wide. Growing in dense, slightly loose tufts with green stems, it develops an intricate sedge structure with multiple spikelets 5 to 15 millimeters long that are rounded to oblong with jagged sides. Its leaves are relatively narrow, forming a delicate ground-covering profile with blades that spread from the base of the plant. The fruit is small, approximately 1.5 to 1.9 millimeters long, with a narrow lanceolate perigynia that has a short beak measuring 1.5 to 2.2 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 76 sympatric species. Distinguished by jagged spikelets and long-tapered beaks comprising nearly half the perigynium length.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist soil, wooded areas
Elevation: 1500-2200 m
Outside California: western North America
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 infirminervia native to California?
Yes. Carex infirminervia is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Carex infirminervia belong to?
Carex infirminervia is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex infirminervia grow in?
Carex infirminervia grows in Moist soil, wooded areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.