Carex specifica
Narrow-fruited sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex specifica (Narrow-fruited sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive narrow perigynia with translucent walls.
Narrow-fruited sedge is a California native perennial found in the high Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada Mountains in dry meadows and open forest at elevations of 1,200 to 3,500 meters. The sedge produces clusters of small spikelets, generally 4 to 14 in an elliptic inflorescence 19 to 40 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it features distinctive flat or slightly folded leaf blades 2 to 5 millimeters wide. Its leaves have a notable feature of firm sheaths with a thin, white membranous strip extending more than 10 millimeters below the top. The fruit is small, approximately 1.6 to 2.1 millimeters long, with perigynia that are green to gold and slightly translucent.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 98 sympatric species; distinctive narrow perigynia with translucent walls
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry soil, meadows, open forest
Elevation: 1200-3500 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, Alpine, Mariposa, Nevada, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Calaveras, El Dorado, Amador, Madera, Siskiyou, Shasta, Plumas, Tehama, Placer, Sierra, Los Angeles, Butte, Riverside, Lassen, Del Norte
Outside California: western Nevada
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 specifica native to California?
Yes. Carex specifica is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex specifica grow?
Carex specifica occurs in Fresno, Mono, Alpine, Mariposa, Nevada, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3500 m.
What plant family does Carex specifica belong to?
Carex specifica is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex specifica grow in?
Carex specifica grows in dry soil, meadows, open forest.
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.