Schkuhr ex Willd.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155252
Element CodePMCYP03C90
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common Namesbroom sedge (EN) Carex à balais (FR) Pointed Broom 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.
Taxonomic CommentsThis record is for the broad treatment of Carex scoparia, including C. scoparia var. tessellata (known only from Maine and New Brunswick), as recognized in Mastroguiseppe et al.'s treatment in FNA (2002, vol. 23) and in Kartesz (1994, 1999). Weakley et al. (2024) follow the elevation of var. tessellata to C. waponahkikensis and thus a slightly narrower treatment of C. scoparia.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-14
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2025-08-14
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex scoparia is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in a variety of open habitats, including meadows, bogs, swamp forests, marshes, seepy ledges, and ditches, with two varieties. It occurs in North America from British Columbia east to Newfoundland Island, Canada, south to Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas west to California in the United States; it is introduced in Europe and New Zealand. There are over 1400 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, grazing and conversion to pasture, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex scoparia occurs in North America from British Columbia east to Newfoundland Island (except Saskatchwan), Canada, south to Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas west to California in the United States (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). It is introduced in Europe and New Zealand (FNA 2002). Native range extent was estimated to be over 10 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). See individual entries for distribution details about the two varieties.
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 1400 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, grazing and conversion to pasture, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, 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, large number of occurrences, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.