Taxon Report
Carex cyrtostachya Janeway & ZikaSierra 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
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Scientific Name: |
Carex cyrtostachya Janeway & Zika |
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Common Name: |
Sierra arching sedge |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Element Code: | PMCYP03M00 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | CACY2 |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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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: |
Conservation Status
| CA Rare Plant Rank: | 1B.2 |
| Global Rank: | G2 |
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State Rank: |
S2 |
| State List: | None |
| Fed List: | None |
| Other Status: | |
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CRPR Changes: |
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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. |
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Threats: |
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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 28 November 2025].