Carex rossii
Ross' sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex rossii (Ross' sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by few-flowered lateral spikelets and long bracts.
Ross' sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in northwestern California, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Modoc Plateau, White and Inyo Mountains, and Desert Mountains in dry forest and meadow habitats at elevations up to 3,800 meters. Flowering from late spring to summer, this sedge forms delicate green to gray-green tufts with thin, stiff leaves. Growing 7 to 40 centimeters tall with ascending stems that are slightly rough along their edges, it develops in dense to loose clumps from stout underground rhizomes. Its leaves are narrow, measuring 0.8 to 4 millimeters wide, with a stiff texture that stands upright or slightly flat. The plant produces small pistillate spikelets with green or reddish-tinged bracts, creating subtle clusters characteristic of sedge species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 131 sympatric species; diagnostic few-flowered lateral spikelets and long bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry forest, meadows
Elevation: < 3800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Tulare, Humboldt, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Fresno, Plumas, Shasta, Glenn, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Riverside, Nevada, Modoc, Madera, El Dorado, Trinity, Tehama, Sierra, Mariposa, Butte, Placer, Lassen, Alpine, Del Norte, Amador, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Contra Costa
Outside California: to northern Canada, Colorado, Arizona, scattered to north-central 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 rossii native to California?
Yes. Carex rossii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex rossii grow?
Carex rossii occurs in San Bernardino, Tulare, Humboldt, Mono, Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of < 3800 m.
What plant family does Carex rossii belong to?
Carex rossii is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex rossii grow in?
Carex rossii grows in dry forest, meadows.
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.