Carex petasata
Liddon's sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Carex petasata (Liddon's sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by pale inflorescence and translucent perigynia walls.
Liddon's sedge is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lassen County, and the Modoc Plateau in dry to wet meadows and open forest at elevations of 600 to 3,400 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this sedge produces green, gold, and pale brown inflorescences with linear-oblong clusters 2.5 to 6 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems, it forms clumps with narrow leaves 2 to 5 millimeters wide. Its leaves have small ligules 2 to 5 millimeters long and distinctive narrow blades that create delicate, grass-like textures. The fruit develops as cream-white to brown perigynia with 5 to 8 visible veins, each 2.2 to 3 millimeters long with a green or gold-tipped beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 99 sympatric species; key features are pale inflorescence and translucent perigynia walls
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry to wet meadows, open forest
Elevation: 600-3400 m
California counties: Inyo, Modoc, Alpine, Lassen, Sierra, Plumas, Mono, Nevada, Tulare, Mariposa, Madera
Outside California: to Alaska, Saskatchewan, Rocky Mountains
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 petasata native to California?
Yes. Carex petasata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex petasata grow?
Carex petasata occurs in Inyo, Modoc, Alpine, Lassen, Sierra, Plumas, Mono, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 600-3400 m.
What plant family does Carex petasata belong to?
Carex petasata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex petasata rare or endangered?
Carex petasata carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Carex petasata grow in?
Carex petasata grows in dry to wet meadows, open forest.
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.