Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea
Western single-spiked sedge, Western Single-Spiked Sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea (Western single-spiked sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by single spikelet and dioecious condition.
Western single-spiked sedge is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in rocky, occasionally limey seasonally wet places at elevations of 2,100 to 3,700 meters. Flowering in late summer, this dioecious sedge produces inconspicuous brown to black spikelets with white-margined bracts. Growing with rhizomatous stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms stiff-erect clusters with narrow leaves 1.5 to 4 millimeters wide. Its leaves are exceeded by the inflorescence, with occasional fine red dots on the leaf sheaths and a ligule that may be longer than wide. The fruit consists of small, nearly equally sized perigynia that are approximately 1.5 to 2.1 millimeters long, with ascending purplish perigynia bearing a short 0.4 to 0.7 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 84 sympatric species; diagnostic single spikelet and dioecious condition
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, occasionally limey seasonally wet places
Elevation: 2100-3700 m
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Alpine, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Nevada
Outside California: Oregon to British Columbia, Colorado
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea native to California?
Yes. Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea grow?
Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Alpine, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Nevada, at elevations of 2100-3700 m.
What plant family does Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea belong to?
Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea rare or endangered?
Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea grow in?
Carex scirpoidea subsp. pseudoscirpoidea grows in Rocky, occasionally limey seasonally wet places.
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.