Carex xerophila
Chaparral sedge, Chaparral Sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Carex xerophila (Chaparral sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive serpentine habitat and purple basal sheaths.
Chaparral sedge is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains on dry gabbro or serpentine soils in open forest, scrub, and chaparral edges at elevations of 450 to 770 meters. Flowering sparsely from early spring, this sedge produces green and dark purple-tipped flowers in delicate clusters. Growing in dense to loose tufts with stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms distinctive reddish to dark purple basal sheaths. Its leaves are narrow, 1.7 to 3.8 millimeters wide, green and not glaucous, with subtle venation on the leaf undersides. The fruits are small brown structures approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long with strong veining and a short beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 86 sympatric species; distinctive serpentine habitat and purple basal sheaths
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry gabbro or serpentine soils in open forest, scrub, thicket edges, chaparral, often with
Elevation: 450-770 m
California counties: Yuba, Nevada, Butte, El Dorado
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 xerophila native to California?
Yes. Carex xerophila is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Carex xerophila grow?
Carex xerophila occurs in Yuba, Nevada, Butte, El Dorado, at elevations of 450-770 m.
What plant family does Carex xerophila belong to?
Carex xerophila is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex xerophila rare or endangered?
Carex xerophila carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
What habitat does Carex xerophila grow in?
Carex xerophila grows in dry gabbro or serpentine soils in open forest, scrub, thicket edges, chaparral, often with.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Carex abrupta — Abrupt-beaked sedge
- Carex alma — Sturdy sedge
- Carex amplifolia — Big-leaf sedge
- Carex angustata — Narrow-leaved sedge
- Carex aquatilis — Water sedge
- Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis — Water sedge
- Cladium californicum — California sawgrass
- Cladium sp. — Twig rush
- Cyperaceae sp. — Sedge family
- Cyperus acuminatus — Short pointed cyperus
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.