Carex longii
Green-and-white sedge
(c) Santiago Martín-Bravo, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Carex longii (Green-and-white sedge) is a non-native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by club-shaped spikelets and wide perigynia are distinctive.
Green-and-white sedge is a naturalized perennial sedge found in northern California Interior Ranges and California Roaded Forest in Shasta County, growing in seasonally wet swales at elevations around 200 meters. Its stems occasionally lean and branch, creating a distinctive growth pattern with stems that can root at the nodes. With leaf blades 2 to 4.5 millimeters wide and green leaf sheaths, the plant has a delicate structural appearance. Its leaf ligules measure approximately 1.8 to 4.4 millimeters long, contributing to its slender profile. The fruit is small, measuring 1.3 to 1.7 millimeters long, with perigynium that are green to brown and strongly veined on both sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 42 sympatric species; club-shaped spikelets and wide perigynia are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Seasonally wet swales
Elevation: 200 m
Outside California: Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, New Zealand, native to eastern United States, southern Great Plains, Mexico, Central 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 longii native to California?
No. Carex longii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Carex longii belong to?
Carex longii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex longii grow in?
Carex longii grows in Seasonally wet swales.
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.