Home/Species/ Purple Sedge

Carex purpurifera

Mackenzie

Purple Sedge

G4Apparently Secure (G4?) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.150837

Element CodePMCYP03B90

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicendemic to a single nation

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderCyperales

FamilyCyperaceae

GenusCarex

Synonyms

Carex laxiflora var. purpurifera(Mack.) Gleason

Other Common Names

Limestone Purple Sedge (EN) purple 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.

Conservation Status

Review Date1994-11-14

Change Date1994-11-14

Rank Reasons

Common in Appalachian Kentucky, according to Julian Campbell (1994).

Threat Impact Comments

Though widespread, Carex purpurifera occurs on restricted habitat, making it especially vulnerable to land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, and forest management practices. Disturbance of soil creates problems with competition from non-native species (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002).

Ecology & Habitat

Other Nations (1)

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Tennessee	S3	Yes
Virginia	S3	Yes
North Carolina	S3	Yes
Georgia	S2	Yes
West Virginia	S1	Yes
Kentucky	S3	Yes
Alabama	S2	Yes
Ohio	S3	Yes
Pennsylvania	S1	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (1)

North Carolina (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Little Indian (addition)	Nantahala National Forest	640

References (4)

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.
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).