Taxon Report

Carex saliniformis Mackenzie

deceiving sedge

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Taxon Summary

Carex saliniformis, commonly known as deceiving sedge, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Cyperaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, Marshes and swamps (coastal salt), and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 3 to 230 meters. Carex saliniformis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Carex saliniformis Mackenzie
Common Name:	deceiving sedge
Family:	Cyperaceae
Element Code:	PMCYP03BY0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CASA6
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: (May)Jun(Jul)	(May)Jun(Jul)
Elevation:	3-230 (10-755)
General Habitats:	Coastal prairie, Coastal scrub, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:	Mesic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G2
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	18
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	14

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Humboldt (HUM), Mendocino (MEN), Santa Cruz (SCR)*, Sonoma (SON)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arched Rock (3812342), Elk (3912326), Eureka Hill (3812385), Felton (3712211)*, Fort Bragg (3912347), Inglenook (3912357), Mallo Pass Creek (3912316), Mendocino (3912337), Noyo Hill (3912346), Orick (4112431), Point Arena (3812386), Rodgers Peak (4112421), Stewarts Point (3812364)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	2	11 %
Development	1	5%
Grazing	1	5%
Other	1	5%

Notes



Possibly threatened by grazing. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 36(8):477 (1909) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 November 2025].