Carex texensis
Texas sedge
(c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alison Northup · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Carex texensis (Texas sedge) is a non-native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by non-native with distinctive unveined perigynia.
Texas sedge is a naturalized perennial found in southern California counties, including Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and in the Sacramento Valley's Butte County, typically growing on creekbanks and disturbed ground at elevations below 100 meters. Its narrow leaf blades measuring less than 1.5 millimeters wide create delicate, compact clusters with spikelets generally less than 10 in number. Growing with slender stems, the sedge produces white to green bracts that are acuminate or slightly awned. Its leaves and inflorescences are characterized by narrow, pale green to gold coloration with distinctive tapered perigynia. The small fruits are approximately 1.3 to 1.6 millimeters long, with a short conic beak and narrow white-margined tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; non-native with distinctive unveined perigynia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creekbanks, disturbed ground
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Butte, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Sacramento
Outside California: native to central and southeastern United States
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 texensis native to California?
No. Carex texensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
Where in California does Carex texensis grow?
Carex texensis occurs in Butte, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Carex texensis belong to?
Carex texensis is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex texensis grow in?
Carex texensis grows in Creekbanks, disturbed ground.
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.