Taxon Report

Carex serpenticola P.F. Zika

serpentine sedge

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Taxon Summary

Carex serpenticola, commonly known as serpentine sedge, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Cyperaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps (mesic, and serpentine), growing at elevations from 60 to 1200 meters. Carex serpenticola is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Carex serpenticola P.F. Zika
Common Name:	serpentine sedge
Family:	Cyperaceae
Element Code:	PMCYP03KM0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CASE33
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Mar-May	Mar-May
Elevation:	60-1200 (195-3935)
General Habitats:	Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	17
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	17

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Gasquet (4112378), High Divide (4112481), High Plateau Mtn. (4112388), Hiouchi (4112471), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385), Shelly Creek Ridge (4112387), Smith River (4112482)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	%

Notes



Not in The Jepson Manual.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Madroño 45(3):261 (1998)

Carex serpenticola profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018)

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 28 October 2025].