Carex occidentalis
Western sedge
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Carex occidentalis (Western sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by southern California mountains, veinless perigynia with notched beaks.
Western sedge is a native perennial sedge found in the San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and White and Inyo Mountains in dry woodland and meadow habitats at elevations of 1,600 to 3,200 meters. This sedge forms loose tufted clusters with slender leaf blades 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. Growing with relatively open inflorescences 1.5 to 3 centimeters long, it produces clusters with generally fewer than 10 distinct spikelets. Its leaves have brown pistillate flower bracts with short awns, creating a delicate texture across the plant's structure. The fruit is small, approximately 1.3 to 2 millimeters long, with green to brown perigynia featuring a slightly notched tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; southern California mountains, veinless perigynia with notched beaks
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry woodland, meadows
Elevation: 1600-3200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Riverside, Siskiyou, Plumas, Tuolumne, Placer, El Dorado, Los Angeles
Outside California: to South Dakota, Texas
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Carex occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex occidentalis grow?
Carex occidentalis occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Riverside, Siskiyou, Plumas, Tuolumne, Placer, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1600-3200 m.
What plant family does Carex occidentalis belong to?
Carex occidentalis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex occidentalis rare or endangered?
Carex occidentalis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Carex occidentalis grow in?
Carex occidentalis grows in dry woodland, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.