Saarela & B.A. Ford
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154406
Element CodePMCYP03KY0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common NamesCarex de la Cordillère (FR)
Concept ReferenceSaarela, J. M. and B. A. Ford. 2001. Taxonomy of the Carex backii Complex (Section Phyllostachyae, Cyperaceae). Systematic Botany 26(4): 704-721.
Taxonomic CommentsCarex cordillerana and Carex saximontana are treated as distinct from Carex backii by Saarela and Ford (2001), and Flora North America (2002, vol. 23).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-01-04
Change Date2023-01-04
Edition Date2023-01-04
Edition AuthorsEberly (2023)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsCarex cordillerana is a uncommon but widespread sedge of the mountains of western North America in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, and Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming in the United States. Threats to this species include mining in the past and present, recreational activities, habitat succession, and livestock. Surveys of potential habitat may identify additional occurrences. Vegetation management including prescribed fire, may benefit this species which seems to require disturbance to maintain a low competition environment.
Range Extent CommentsCarex cordillerana occurs in mountainous areas of western North America in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming in the United States (FNA 2002b).
Occurrences CommentsBased on NatureServe Network occurrence records and herbarium records, there are between 81 and 300 occurrences (NatureServe 2022, SEINet 2022). There are around 90 occurrences in Oregon, six in Washington, 7 in Wyoming, 3 in Alberta, and only a few in Idaho and Utah (D. Antonelli, pers. comm., 2022, NatureServe 2022). While known from around 30 occurrences in British Columbia, it is believed to be more common than the data show; it occurs in a variety of habitat over a large area with only sporadic reports.
Threat Impact CommentsThis species is threatened by road maintenance (herbicide drift), trampling and grazing by livestock or grazing by native ungulates, recreational activities, competitive non-native plants, and mining activities as some sites have active mining claims. Habitat succession, and encroachment of competitive species, as a result of fire suppression, threaten the species (NatureServe 2022). In Idaho, this species occurs on the outer most margins of wetlands, therefore threats that impact the hydrology of these sites may impact the species (D. Antonelli, pers. comm., 2022). This species depends on some level of disturbance to reduce competition (Carex Working Group 2008).