Carex lemmonii
Lemmon's sedge
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex lemmonii (Lemmon's sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by separate male/female spikes, lanceolate spreading perigynia, and long bract sheaths.
Lemmon's sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, southern North Coast Ranges, Lake County, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Transverse and Peninsular Ranges in marshes, bogs, and meadows at elevations of 700 to 3,000 meters. A tufted sedge with white, green, gold, or red-brown to dark purple flower bracts, it forms dense clumps with slender stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall. Growing with narrow leaf blades 1.5 to 4.5 millimeters wide, the plant develops compact inflorescences generally less than 40 centimeters long with terminal and lateral spikelets. Its distinctive fruits are small, measuring 1.5 to 1.9 millimeters long, with green or occasionally red-brown or purple-blotched perigynia that have slightly ciliate tips. The sedge's complex coloration and delicate structure make it a subtle but intricate component of montane wetland ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 127 sympatric species. Distinguished by separate male/female spikes, lanceolate spreading perigynia, and long bract sheaths.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes, bogs, meadows, occasionally on serpentine
Elevation: (30)700-3000 m
California counties: Fresno, San Bernardino, Plumas, Tulare, Butte, El Dorado, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, Sonoma, Sierra, Kern, Shasta, Tuolumne, Glenn, Tehama, Madera, Trinity, Alpine, Siskiyou, Yuba, Lake, Lassen
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 lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Carex lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex lemmonii grow?
Carex lemmonii occurs in Fresno, San Bernardino, Plumas, Tulare, Butte, El Dorado, Mariposa, Mono and other counties, at elevations of (30)700-3000 m.
What plant family does Carex lemmonii belong to?
Carex lemmonii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex lemmonii grow in?
Carex lemmonii grows in Marshes, bogs, meadows, occasionally on serpentine.
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.