Carex inops subsp. inops

Volcano or long-rhizomed sedge, Volcano Or Long-Rhizomed Sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Volcano sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and high northern California ranges in dry open forests, meadows, and forest edges at elevations of 700 to 2,000 meters. Its distinctive inflorescences feature spikelets with green, red, or purple bracts that have striking white margins about 0.4 to 0.8 millimeters wide. Growing with long rhizomes and slender stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, this sedge develops leaves that are typically as long as or longer than its inflorescence. Its narrow leaf blades measure 1 to 3 millimeters wide, creating delicate textural elements in its forest and meadow habitats. The fruit is small and generally white, typically 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters long with strong peripheral veins.

Habitat: dry open forests, edges, meadows

Elevation: 700-2000 m

Bioregions: KR, CaRH

California counties: Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, El Dorado, Lassen

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