Carex tahoensis
Tahoe sedge
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Carex tahoensis (Tahoe sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Tahoe sedge is a California native perennial sedge found in central Sierra Nevada Mountains on open, rocky slopes at elevations of 3,200 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from late summer to early fall, this plant produces white, gold, and brown spikelets in compact inflorescences 15 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems, it forms dense tufts with narrow leaves approximately 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide that are distinctively folded or downcurved. Its leaves have small white-margined bracts, with pistillate flower bracts featuring red-brown coloration and a straw or tan center. The fruit is characterized by planoconvex perigynia ranging from green to coppery brown, with a distinctive cylindric beak that is gold to reddish in color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes
Elevation: 3200-3700 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, El Dorado, Alpine, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mariposa
Outside California: scattered in montane western North America
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 tahoensis native to California?
Yes. Carex tahoensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex tahoensis grow?
Carex tahoensis occurs in Inyo, Mono, El Dorado, Alpine, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mariposa, at elevations of 3200-3700 m.
What plant family does Carex tahoensis belong to?
Carex tahoensis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex tahoensis rare or endangered?
Carex tahoensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Carex tahoensis grow in?
Carex tahoensis grows in Open, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.