Carex sheldonii

Sheldon's sedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

Sheldon's sedge is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Plumas and Placer counties and the Modoc Plateau in wet places at elevations of 1,200 to 1,500 meters. Flowering in late spring, this sedge produces green to purple-tinged flowers in compact spikelets 8 to 10 millimeters wide. Growing with rhizomatous roots and erect stems 40 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms dense clumps in moist habitats. Its leaves are hairy with blades 3 to 6 millimeters wide, featuring white leaf sheaths with a fibrous texture. The distinctive fruit has an ovate body with multiple ribs, tapering to a 2-millimeter beak with a purple tip and outcurved teeth.

Habitat: Wet places

Elevation: 1200-1500 m

Bioregions: n SNH (Plumas, Placer cos.), MP

California counties: Modoc, Lassen, Placer, Plumas, Del Norte

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.