Carex mendocinensis
Mendocino sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex mendocinensis (Mendocino sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by nodding stems and long linear spikelets are key.
Mendocino sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in northern coastal California, including the Klamath Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, and central western California in moist areas, often on serpentine landscapes at elevations of 150 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this sedge produces pale green to gold or red-brown spikelets with distinctively colored bracts. Growing in dense tufts with nodding stems 25 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops characteristic reddish or red-dotted leaf sheaths. Its narrow leaves measure 1.5 to 5.5 millimeters wide, with sparse hairs near the base and glabrous blades. The fruit is small, roughly 1.7 to 2.5 millimeters long, with a short beak and loosely enclosing perigynia in green, gold, or pale brown tones.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 129 sympatric species; nodding stems and long linear spikelets are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist areas, often serpentine
Elevation: 150-1600 m
California counties: Mendocino, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, Trinity, Sonoma, El Dorado, Yuba, Siskiyou, Plumas, Shasta, Santa Clara
Outside California: southern Oregon
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 mendocinensis native to California?
Yes. Carex mendocinensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex mendocinensis grow?
Carex mendocinensis occurs in Mendocino, Del Norte, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, Trinity, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of 150-1600 m.
What plant family does Carex mendocinensis belong to?
Carex mendocinensis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex mendocinensis grow in?
Carex mendocinensis grows in Moist areas, often 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.