Carex nervina
Sierra sedge, Sierra Sedge
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex nervina (Sierra sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by spongy stems and perigynium shape are key.
Sierra sedge is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and San Joaquin Valley in moist to wet places at elevations of 1,200 to 3,000 meters. Its flowering time is not specified in the source data. Growing in dense, large raised clumps with stems that are spongy when fresh and 3.5 to 5 millimeters wide, this sedge forms distinctive tussocks in moisture-rich habitats. Its leaves have white-spotted sheaths with a U-shaped mouth, featuring a thick rim and blades 3.5 to 5 millimeters wide. The plant produces dense inflorescences 1.5 to 3 centimeters long with 6 to 18 millimeters wide spikelets, featuring pistillate flower bracts that are brown with white margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 121 sympatric species; spongy stems and perigynium shape are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to wet places
Elevation: 1200-3000 m
California counties: Plumas, Mono, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera, Placer, Tulare, Shasta, Nevada, Humboldt, Tehama, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Lassen, Sierra, Glenn, Alpine, Butte, Tuolumne, Amador, Trinity, Mendocino, Del Norte
Outside California: southern Oregon, western Nevada
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 nervina native to California?
Yes. Carex nervina is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex nervina grow?
Carex nervina occurs in Plumas, Mono, Mariposa, Fresno, Madera, Placer, Tulare, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3000 m.
What plant family does Carex nervina belong to?
Carex nervina is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex nervina grow in?
Carex nervina grows in Moist to wet places.
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.