Carex microptera
Small-winged sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex microptera (Small-winged sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by dense compact inflorescence and small perigynium wings.
Small-winged sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Great Basin in meadows and open forest at elevations of 1,500 to 3,400 meters. Its inflorescences are dense and green to dark brown, typically 12 to 25 millimeters long with spikelets that feature brown bracts often tinged with red, purple, or copper. Growing with erect stems 20 to 110 centimeters tall, this sedge has distinctive leaf blades 2 to 6 millimeters wide. Its leaf bracts are brown with pale centers, and the plant produces small fruits 1 to 1.6 millimeters long with ovate perigynia featuring green to light brown veins. The perigynia have a green, gold, or red-brown beak 1 to 1.5 millimeters long, which covers one-third to one-half of the fruit body.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 115 sympatric species; dense compact inflorescence and small perigynium wings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Meadows, open forest
Elevation: 1500-3400 m
California counties: Tehama, Inyo, Mono, Madera, Tulare, Alpine, Fresno, Trinity, Tuolumne, Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Plumas, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Modoc, Glenn, Lassen, Shasta, Mariposa, San Bernardino, Del Norte, Butte, Sierra, Mendocino, Amador, San Francisco
Outside California: western North 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 microptera native to California?
Yes. Carex microptera is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex microptera grow?
Carex microptera occurs in Tehama, Inyo, Mono, Madera, Tulare, Alpine, Fresno, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3400 m.
What plant family does Carex microptera belong to?
Carex microptera is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex microptera grow in?
Carex microptera grows in Common. Meadows, open forest.
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.