Carex senta
Western rough sedge, Western Rough Sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex senta (Western rough sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by cross-walls on lower sheaths and prominently veined perigynia.
Western rough sedge is a native perennial sedge found in northern California Interior, Sierra Nevada, southern Sacramento Valley, central western, and southwestern California in streambanks, marshy areas, and meadows at elevations below 2,900 meters. This plant produces inflorescences with lateral spikelets 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, often featuring dark purple pistillate flower bracts. Growing with loosely clustered stems and rhizomes, it develops leaf blades 3 to 5 millimeters wide with scabrous sheath backs marked by small, raised cross-walls. Its leaves feature bladeless sheaths on the lower stem, with distinctive green perigynia often spotted or blotched with purple. The fruit measures 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, with prominent 3 to 7 veins and a dark purple-tipped beak less than half a millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 120 sympatric species; diagnostic cross-walls on lower sheaths and prominently veined perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, marshy areas, meadows
Elevation: < 2900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Alameda, Alpine, Fresno, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Shasta, Madera, Monterey, Nevada, Plumas, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sierra, Santa Barbara, Inyo, Kern, San Benito, San Diego, Ventura, El Dorado, Mariposa, Butte, Tulare, Placer, Yolo, Siskiyou, Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Yuba, Solano, Calaveras, Trinity, Mono, Amador, Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
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 senta native to California?
Yes. Carex senta is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex senta grow?
Carex senta occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Alameda, Alpine, Fresno, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of < 2900 m.
What plant family does Carex senta belong to?
Carex senta is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex senta grow in?
Carex senta grows in Streambanks, marshy areas, 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.