Carex mariposana
Mariposa sedge
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex mariposana (Mariposa sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by oblong inflorescence shape and perigynium venation pattern.
Mariposa sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the North Coast Ranges, Cascade Ranges, Sierra Nevada High, and San Bernardino Mountains in meadows, swales, riparian shores, and thickets at elevations of 750 to 3,600 meters. Its inflorescences are oblong to elliptic, 14 to 48 millimeters long, with distinct lowest spikelets that have gold, brown, or red-brown flower bracts. Growing with narrow leaf blades 1.5 to 4 millimeters wide, the sedge forms compact clusters with distinctive coloration. Its leaves feature short ligules less than 3 millimeters long, and the plant produces perigynia that are lance-ovate, planoconvex, and colored green, gold, or coppery. The fruit is small, approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, with a dark brown to red-brown cylindric beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 119 sympatric species; oblong inflorescence shape and perigynium venation pattern
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, swales, riparian shores, thickets
Elevation: 750-3600 m
California counties: Mendocino, Tulare, Mono, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Trinity, Alpine, Fresno, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Amador, Placer, Nevada, Plumas, Madera, Riverside, Lake, Lassen, Kern, Yuba, Shasta, Los Angeles, Butte, Sierra, Humboldt, Del Norte, Modoc, Inyo
Outside California: Nevada (Washoe Co.)
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 mariposana native to California?
Yes. Carex mariposana is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex mariposana grow?
Carex mariposana occurs in Mendocino, Tulare, Mono, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Trinity, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 750-3600 m.
What plant family does Carex mariposana belong to?
Carex mariposana is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex mariposana grow in?
Carex mariposana grows in Meadows, swales, riparian shores, thickets.
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.