Carex subnigricans
Dark mountain sedge, Dark Mountain Sedge
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex subnigricans (Dark mountain sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive narrow leaves and low spikelet count.
Dark mountain sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in the Sierra Nevada, eastern Sierra Nevada, and White and Inyo Mountains in high-elevation meadows and dry, rocky slopes at elevations of 2,600 to 3,800 meters. Its compact growth features rhizomatous stems 2.5 to 20 centimeters tall with very narrow, green leaves that are inrolled or channeled. Growing in tight clusters, this sedge produces bisexual spikelets with light brown bracts and distinctive golden-brown perigynia. Its extremely narrow leaves, barely 0.4 to 1 millimeter wide, are shorter than the plant's inflorescence. The plant's perigynia are small, ascending, and range from 2.5 to 4.1 millimeters long, with a delicate bristle-like axis.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 85 sympatric species; distinctive narrow leaves and low spikelet count
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, generally dry, rocky slopes
Elevation: 2600-3800 m
California counties: Mono, Tulare, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Tuolumne, Alpine, Placer, Mariposa, Modoc
Outside California: to Idaho, Utah
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 subnigricans native to California?
Yes. Carex subnigricans is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex subnigricans grow?
Carex subnigricans occurs in Mono, Tulare, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Tuolumne, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 2600-3800 m.
What plant family does Carex subnigricans belong to?
Carex subnigricans is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex subnigricans grow in?
Carex subnigricans grows in Meadows, generally dry, rocky slopes.
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.