Taxon Report

Carex californica Bailey

California sedge

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Taxon Summary

Carex californica, commonly known as California sedge, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Cyperaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Bogs and fens, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal prairie, Marshes and swamps (margins), and Meadows and seeps, growing at elevations from 90 to 335 meters. Carex californica is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Carex californica Bailey
Common Name:	California sedge
Family:	Cyperaceae
Element Code:	PMCYP032D0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CACA9
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug	May-Aug
Elevation:	90-335 (295-1100)
General Habitats:	Bogs and fens, Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal prairie, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2B.3 to 2B.2 on 2019-07-08 changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	41
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	6
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	2
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	31

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Mendocino (MEN), Sonoma (SON)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Cold Spring (3912315), Elk (3912326), Eureka Hill (3812385), Fort Bragg (3912347), Gualala (3812375), Mathison Peak (3912336), Mendocino (3912337), Plantation (3812353), Point Arena (3812386), Saunders Reef (3812376)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	8
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	14	34 %
Road/trail construction/maint.	7	17%
Logging	5	12%
Development	4	9%
ORV activity	2	4%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	2	4%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	2%
Erosion/runoff	1	2%
Grazing	1	2%

Notes



Threatened by development and road construction and maintenance. Possibly threatened by logging. Sensitive in ID. See Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club 1:9 (1889) 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 27 October 2025].