Carex integra
Smooth-beaked sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex integra (Smooth-beaked sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by distinct spikelets, gold-brown color, and inconspicuous entire beaks.
Smooth-beaked sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Warner Mountains in seasonally moist soils at elevations of 1,000 to 3,400 meters. Its inflorescence features gold to brown spikelets with distinct coloration, appearing in dense clusters 15 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with fine, delicate stems, this sedge produces narrow leaves approximately 1 to 2 millimeters wide. Its leaves have short ligules measuring 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters long, with pistillate flower bracts that are gold to dark brown with white to green centers. The fruit is small and compact, with straw-colored to light brown perigynia that are lance-ovate and slightly constricted near the base when dry.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 115 sympatric species. Distinguished by distinct spikelets, gold-brown color, and inconspicuous entire beaks.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Seasonally moist soil
Elevation: 1000-3400 m
California counties: Butte, San Bernardino, Tehama, Siskiyou, Glenn, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Fresno, Modoc, Madera, Shasta, Alpine, Sierra, Trinity, Inyo, Humboldt, Calaveras, Mariposa, Lassen, Mendocino
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
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 integra native to California?
Yes. Carex integra is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex integra grow?
Carex integra occurs in Butte, San Bernardino, Tehama, Siskiyou, Glenn, Mono, Nevada, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1000-3400 m.
What plant family does Carex integra belong to?
Carex integra is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex integra grow in?
Carex integra grows in Seasonally moist soil.
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.