Carex interior
Inland sedge
(c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex interior (Inland sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Key features include open inflorescence, jagged spikelet outlines, and reflexed serrate-beaked perigynia.
Inland sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and high Cascade Range in wet meadows and calcareous shores at elevations of 1,100 to 2,100 meters. This sedge grows in dense tufts, producing narrow spikes with green to gold spikelets. Growing with fine stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps with slender leaf blades 0.6 to 2.7 millimeters wide. Its leaves are narrow and delicate, with pale margins and golden-tipped flower bracts that create a subtle, intricate texture. The fruit is small, approximately 1.2 to 1.8 millimeters long, with a distinctive green to brown perigynia that has a slightly reddish-tipped beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 94 sympatric species. Key features include open inflorescence, jagged spikelet outlines, and reflexed serrate-beaked perigynia.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, often calcareous, not sphagnum bogs
Elevation: 1100-2100 m
California counties: Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lassen, Trinity, Humboldt, Alpine
Outside California: to Alaska, Maine, Mexico
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 interior native to California?
Yes. Carex interior is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex interior grow?
Carex interior occurs in Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lassen, Trinity, Humboldt, Alpine, at elevations of 1100-2100 m.
What plant family does Carex interior belong to?
Carex interior is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex interior grow in?
Carex interior grows in Wet meadows, shores, often calcareous, not sphagnum bogs.
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.