Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132535
Element CodePMCYP03E50
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
SynonymsCarex spissa var. ultra(Bailey) Kükenth.
Other Common NamesCochise 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.
Taxonomic CommentsStandley's treatment of Carex section Hispideae considered Carex ultra Bailey and Carex seatoniana Bailey to be synonyms of, and not consistently differentiated from Carex spissa Bailey (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2002, Hermann 1970). More recent treatments for Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico have considered Carex ultra Bailey to be a distinct species, and it has been noted by González and Reznicek that the intergradation of characters seen within Carex section Hispideae is based on previously unrecognized additional taxa in Mexico (Allred et al. 2020, González-Elizondo et al. 2018, Rink and Licher 2015).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2022-12-05
Change Date2022-12-05
Edition Date2022-12-05
Edition AuthorsDeBruin, E.A. (1989), rev. B. MacBryde (2000), rev. C. Nordman (2022).
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank ReasonsCarex ultra occurs in seepage or spring fed wetland habitat, in mountainous areas of the southwestern United States in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico and in northern Mexico. The total number of occurrences is estimated to be about 70, including about 50 locations in Arizona. The total population size is uncertain, but is at least 1000 plants. It is threatened by grazing impacts, hydrologic impacts, such as from depletion of groundwater, invasive exotic species, and more frequent and extreme drought and higher temperatures due to climate change.
Range Extent CommentsCochise Sedge occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It occurs in wetlands in mountainous areas in central and southeastern Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico in the United States, and northern Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon states in Mexico, its range extent is estimated to be 425,000 square kilometers (Allred et al. 2020, GBIF 2022, González-Elizondo et al. 2018, iNaturalist 2022, NatureServe 2022, Rink and Licher 2015, SEINet 2022).
Occurrences CommentsThe total number of occurrences is uncertain, but is estimated to be about 70, including about 50 locations in Arizona (GBIF 2022, iNaturalist 2022, McGrath 2020, NatureServe 2022, SEINet 2022).
Threat Impact CommentsThreats to Cochise Sedge include grazing impacts, hydrologic impacts to its seepage or spring fed wetland habitat, such as from depletion of groundwater, and invasive exotic species, including Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) (NatureServe 2022). More frequent and extreme drought and higher temperatures due to climate change may severely impact this species as the springs where it occurs may be subject to drying up (McGrath 2020).