Carex nebrascensis
Nebraska sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex nebrascensis (Nebraska sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by blue-glaucous basal leaves and many perigynia per spikelet.
Nebraska sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin, and northern Desert Mountains in meadows and swamps at elevations below 2,500 meters. Its distinctive blue-glaucous leaves are thick and 3 to 12 millimeters wide, forming tufted clusters at the stem base. Growing in dense clumps with lateral spikelets 3 to 6 centimeters long and 5 to 9 millimeters wide, the sedge presents a two-colored inflorescence with bracts often longer than the spike. The leaves are characteristically thick with a strong blue-gray coloration, giving the plant a unique appearance in wet mountain habitats. Its fruit features a reddish-dotted perigynia with a short brown or purple-tipped beak, typical of this robust mountain sedge.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 123 sympatric species; blue-glaucous basal leaves and many perigynia per spikelet
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, swamps
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Fresno, Lassen, Mono, Plumas, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Madera, Modoc, Nevada, Tehama, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Alpine, Butte, Calaveras, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Amador, Sierra, Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Lake, Sonoma, Mariposa, San Diego, Ventura, Glenn, Humboldt, Santa Cruz
Outside California: western United States
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 nebrascensis native to California?
Yes. Carex nebrascensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex nebrascensis grow?
Carex nebrascensis occurs in San Bernardino, Fresno, Lassen, Mono, Plumas, Tulare, Tuolumne, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Carex nebrascensis belong to?
Carex nebrascensis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex nebrascensis grow in?
Carex nebrascensis grows in Meadows, swamps.
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.