Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129765
Element CodePMCYP035Z0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
SynonymsCarex complanata var. hirsuta(Willd.) Gleason
Other Common NamesCarex hirsute (FR) fuzzy wuzzy sedge (EN) Fuzzy-wuzzy Sedge (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-09
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2025-07-09
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex hirsutella is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in dry to mesic oak-hickory forests and woodlands, meadows, and barrens occurring in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada and Maine west to Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas south to Georgia west to Texas in the United States. There are over 800 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, haying, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex hirsutella occurs in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada and Maine west to Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas south to Georgia west to Texas in the United States (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 2.2 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 800 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by development, haying, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2025). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.