Home/Species/ Barratt's Sedge

Carex barrattii

Schwein. & Torr.

Barratt's Sedge

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144090

Element CodePMCYP031K0

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderCyperales

FamilyCyperaceae

GenusCarex

Other Common Names

Barratt's sedge (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, 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 Comments

Distinct species, one of many in genus.

Conservation Status

Review Date2000-06-18

Change Date1996-11-22

Edition Date2000-06-18

Edition AuthorsSnyder, D. (1992), rev. C. Thurman (1993) and L. Morse (1996, 2000)

Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences81 to >300

Rank Reasons

Rare throughout a significant portion of its range. Locally frequent in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (with scores of occurrences), as well as Maryland and Delaware. No extant sites known in Pennsylvania or North Carolina.

Range Extent Comments

Atlantic Coastal Plain from Connecticut and Long Island (New York) south to Georgia and Alabama, most abundant in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Also in southern Appalachians.

Occurrences Comments

Locally abundant in New Jersey Pine Barrens, and locally frequent in Maryland and Delaware (as of 2000). Rare in other states in range.

Threat Impact Comments

Land-use conversion, (drainage of habitat) habitat fragmentation, and bog succession are moderate threats to this species (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002).

Ecology & Habitat

Description

Barratt's sedge is a loosely clumped grass-like perennial that occurs in patches. Its roots are fuzzy and yellow. Leaves are strap-like, 2-5 mm wide, and curled under on the edges. Stems are 20-90 cm tall and much exceed the leaves. At the apex of the stems are narrowly cylindrical clusters of male flowers. Also towards the apex of the stems are 2-4 secondary stems which branch off of the main stems. At the apex of these secondary stems are cylindrical flower/fruit clusters (spikes). Usually these spikes are mostly composed of densely arranged female flowers with a few male flowers towards the apex of the spikes. The female flowers develop into fruits (perigynia) which are 2.5-3.5 mm long (Mackenzie 1931-1935, Ball 2002).

Habitat

Wet swales, stream banks, and savannas, especially in pine barren swamps. Also occurs in disturbed habitats like ditches, abandoned cranberry bogs, and railroad, powerline, and road ROW's.

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN4

Province	Rank	Native
Tennessee	S2	Yes
Connecticut	S1	Yes
Delaware	S3	Yes
Alabama	S1	Yes
North Carolina	S1	Yes
New Jersey	S4	Yes
New York	S1	Yes
Pennsylvania	SX	Yes
South Carolina	S1	Yes
Maryland	S3	Yes
Virginia	S2	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (1)

Virginia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Three Ridges	George Washington National Forest	4,745

References (5)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
Kartesz, 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.
Snyder, D. Botanist, New Jersey Natural Heritage Program.
Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.
Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).