Carex nudata
Torrent sedge, Torrent Sedge
(c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex nudata (Torrent sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by streambed habitat and purple-splotched perigynia.
Torrent sedge is a California native perennial found in coastal, North Coast, Sierra Nevada, central western, and western Transverse Ranges bioregions in rocky or sandy streambeds below high-water mark at elevations up to 1,600 meters. Producing dense, raised clumps with stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall, this sedge grows in distinctive clusters not connected by underground rhizomes. Its leaf blades are 2 to 4 millimeters wide, with scabrous sheath backs featuring purple dots and prickles, creating a unique textural appearance. The leaves have purple-blotched sheaths with fibrous characteristics on lower portions, giving the plant a mottled and intricate visual texture. Its fruit is small, ranging 1.3 to 2 millimeters long, with green perigynia marked by purple splotches on the upper two-thirds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 132 sympatric species; streambed habitat and purple-splotched perigynia are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky or sandy streambeds below high-water mark
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Butte, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Siskiyou, Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Tulare, Del Norte, Mariposa, Tehama, Placer, Trinity, Plumas, Solano, San Benito, Stanislaus, Sierra, Amador, Santa Barbara, Madera, Calaveras, Colusa, Merced, Glenn, Los Angeles, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Yolo
Outside California: to southern Washington
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 nudata native to California?
Yes. Carex nudata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex nudata grow?
Carex nudata occurs in Butte, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Siskiyou, Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Carex nudata belong to?
Carex nudata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex nudata grow in?
Carex nudata grows in Rocky or sandy streambeds below high-water mark.
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.