Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148060
Element CodePMCYP034F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common NamesCarex maigre (FR) coastal sedge (EN) Exiled Sedge (EN) Meager 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 Date2025-08-22
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2025-08-22
Edition AuthorsMary J. Russo (1993), rev. Soteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex exilis is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in fens and bogs. It occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota, United States east to Newfoundland Island, south to New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Maryland, disjunct in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina and the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. There are over 350 occurrences, which face threats from development, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, hydrological alteration, fire suppression leading to 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, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex exilis occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota, United States east to Newfoundland Island, south to New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Maryland, disjunct further south to the Atlantic Coastal Plain of south-central North Carolina and the Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 5.8 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 350 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, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities (especially off-road vehicles), hydrological alteration, fire suppression leading to 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 and large number of occurrences.