Carex breweri facts for kids

Carex breweri, also known as Brewer's sedge, is a special type of plant called a sedge. It likes to grow in dry, rocky, or gravelly places. You can find this plant in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Cascade Range in the western United States. It grows as far north as Mount Hood.

What is Brewer's Sedge?

Brewer's sedge is a plant that belongs to the sedge family, Cyperaceae. Sedges are a lot like grasses, but they have some key differences. For example, sedge stems are often triangular, while grass stems are usually round and hollow. This plant was first described in 1867 by a botanist named Francis Boott.

Where Does Brewer's Sedge Grow?

This interesting plant thrives in tough environments. It prefers dry areas with lots of rocks or gravel. You can spot it in the high mountain ranges of the western United States.

Mountain Habitats

The Sierra Nevada mountains stretch through California and Nevada. The Cascade Range goes from northern California all the way up to British Columbia in Canada. These mountains have many dry, rocky slopes. Brewer's sedge is well-suited to live in these challenging conditions. It can even be found near famous peaks like Mount Hood in Oregon.

How is Brewer's Sedge Classified?

Scientists group plants into different families and sections to understand them better. Brewer's sedge is part of a group called Carex section Inflatae.

Related Sedge Species

Within this section, Brewer's sedge has some close relatives. Two other sedge species in the same group are Carex engelmannii and Carex subnigricans. Studying these related plants helps scientists learn more about how different sedges are connected.