Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129531
Element CodePMCYP036K0
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 continental (FR) inland 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 Date2025-07-10
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2025-07-10
Edition AuthorsDeLapp, John (1990), 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 interior is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in a variety of open, often calcareous, wetlands, including meadows, prairies, fens, coniferous and deciduous swamps, river and lakeshores, and seeps. It occurs in much of North America from Alaska, United States and throughout Canada south in the continental United States to western Virginia, Tennessee, northern Arkansas, Kansas, and New Mexico to California, and Chihuahua, Mexico. There are over 1,000 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, conversion to agriculture or pasture, grazing and trampling by livestock, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex interior occurs in much of North America from Alaska, United States and throughout Canada south in the continental United States to western Virginia, Tennessee, northern Arkansas, Kansas, and New Mexico to California, and Chihuahua, Mexico (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 14 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 1,000 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, conversion to agriculture or pasture, grazing and trampling by livestock, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, 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.