Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160148
Element CodePMCYP0N010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusRhynchospora
Other Common NamesRhynchospore blanc (FR) white beaksedge (EN) White Beaksedge (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 Date2025-06-24
Change Date1984-08-29
Edition Date2025-06-24
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, Bruce; rev. R. Bittman (2013), rev. Enns (2016), rev. Eberly (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsRhynchospora alba is a wide ranging perennial sedge that occurs in acidic, nutrient poor wetlands spanning a wide range of elevation (coastal plain ponds to mountain bogs) throughout the northern hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. With a large range extent, thousands of occurrences, and abundant habitat over large parts of its range, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsRhynchospora alba is found throughout the northern hemisphere including North America (United States and Canada), Europe, and Asia (China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Russia) (FNA 2002, Wu and Raven 2010). It occurs in boreal regions of Alaska and Canada and the northern United States, ranging southward in the U.S. in the Great Lakes Basin, the southeastern Coastal Plain, and in mountain bog or seepy sites in the western and eastern United States, including the upper Luquillo Mountain of Puerto Rico (Axelrod 2011). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsIn the southeastern United States, it is highly threatened by land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and pollution (sedimentation, chemicals from Christmas tree plantations); it is also threatened to a lesser extent by succession and forest management practices (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002). The threats of peat mining and alterations to hydrology are potential issues rangewide as this species is frequently found in wetlands and peat bogs rangewide (FNA 2002), but the scope and severity of these threat needs additional information to verify.