Carex subbracteata
Small-bracted sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex subbracteata (Small-bracted sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive leathery golden perigynia.
Small-bracted sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in coastal and western regions including Northern Coast, Central Western California, Southern California, and northern Channel Islands in grasslands and open forests at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering in spring, this sedge produces brown to reddish-coppery flower bracts with green centers. Growing with often leaning stems and fine leaf blades 1.3 to 4.6 millimeters wide, it forms dense, erect inflorescences 13 to 35 millimeters long. Its leaves have white membranous sheaths with a distinctive strip extending more than 10 millimeters below the top. The fruit is small, ovate, and leathery, typically gold with a brown margin, ranging 1.5 to 2.1 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 85 sympatric species; distinctive leathery golden perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: At least seasonally moist soil, grassland to open forest
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: Humboldt, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Napa, Alameda, Mendocino, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, Siskiyou, Tulare, Monterey, Butte
Outside California: southern Oregon, alien in Washington, British Columbia
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 subbracteata native to California?
Yes. Carex subbracteata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex subbracteata grow?
Carex subbracteata occurs in Humboldt, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Napa, Alameda, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Carex subbracteata belong to?
Carex subbracteata is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex subbracteata grow in?
Carex subbracteata grows in At least seasonally moist soil, grassland to 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.