Carex multicaulis
Stick sedge, Stick Sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex multicaulis (Stick sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by very few large perigynia per spikelet and long bracts are distinctive.
Stick sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in forest habitats at elevations of 15 to 2,200 meters. This sedge forms multiple stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, with slender, flat or slightly rolled leaves less than 1.5 millimeters wide. Growing in dense, clustered tufts with round or slightly three-angled stems that are smooth toward the tip, the plant has distinctive leaf-like bracts that often extend beyond its spikelet. Its narrow leaves are significantly shorter than the inflorescence, with white-margined green bracts clasping the base of the plant. The fruit consists of several appressed to ascending perigynia, 5 to 7.2 millimeters long, with faint veins between two prominent marginal veins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 128 sympatric species; very few large perigynia per spikelet and long bracts are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest
Elevation: 15-2200 m
California counties: Mendocino, Shasta, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Butte, San Diego, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Modoc, Monterey, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Kern, Calaveras, El Dorado, Napa, Sonoma, Glenn, Humboldt, Yuba, Santa Clara, Del Norte, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to 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 multicaulis native to California?
Yes. Carex multicaulis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex multicaulis grow?
Carex multicaulis occurs in Mendocino, Shasta, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Butte, San Diego, Lake and other counties, at elevations of 15-2200 m.
What plant family does Carex multicaulis belong to?
Carex multicaulis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex multicaulis grow in?
Carex multicaulis grows in 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.