Taxon Report

Carex cyrtostachya Janeway & Zika

Sierra arching sedge

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Taxon Summary

Carex cyrtostachya, commonly known as Sierra arching sedge, is a perennial herb in the Cyperaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest (mesic), Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps, and Riparian forest (margins), growing at elevations from 610 to 1360 meters. Carex cyrtostachya is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Carex cyrtostachya Janeway & Zika
Common Name:
Sierra arching sedge
Family: Cyperaceae
Element Code: PMCYP03M00
USDA Plants Symbol: CACY2
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Aug May-Aug
Elevation: 610-1360 (2000-4460)
General Habitats: Lower montane coniferous forest, Marshes and swamps, Meadows and seeps, Riparian forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 28
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 9
   Fair (C) 7
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 12
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Butte (BUT), El Dorado (ELD), Yuba (YUB)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Brush Creek (3912163), Challenge (3912142), Clipper Mills (3912152), Devil Peak (3812085), Garden Valley (3812077), Georgetown (3812087), Pollock Pines (3812075), Robbs Peak (3812084), Tunnel Hill (3812086)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 10
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
12 43 %
Non-native plant impacts 5 17%
Other 3 10%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 3 10%
Grazing 3 10%
Logging 3 10%
Waterway bank protection/maintenance 3 10%
Erosion/runoff 1 3%
Foot traffic/trampling 1 3%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 3%
ORV activity 1 3%

Notes

Potentially threatened by logging and non-native plants. Possibly threatened by hydrological alterations and development. Previously identified as C. mendocinensis; see this plant in TJM 2. See Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 7(1):25-35 (2013) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Addition to CRPR 1B.2, G2G3 / S2S3 (2015)
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 January 2025].