L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159451
Element CodePMCYP032F0
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 blanchâtre (FR) Silvery Sedge (EN) silvery 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 canescens that includes C. canescens ssp. disjuncta (but excludes C. lapponica), as recognized in Toivonen's FNA (2002, vol. 23) treatment. Weakley et al. (2024) recognize a narrower treatment of C. canescens, excluding C. disjuncta as a distinct species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-27
Change Date1984-02-24
Edition Date2024-06-27
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex canescens is a perennial graminoid in a variety of wetland habitats with a circumpolar distribution, occurring in North America across Canada, Alaska, and the western United States south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Great Lakes region, and the eastern United States south to South Carolina, South America, Eurasia, Australia, and New Guinea. It is a variable taxon, and there are at least two subspecies recognized. Threats include recreational activities (including off-road vehicle use), lack of fire leading to succession, logging, invasive species, hydrological alteration, and likely other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex canescens is a variable taxon with a circumpolar distribution, occurring in North America across Canada, Alaska, and the western United States south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Great Lakes region, and the eastern United States south to South Carolina, South America, Eurasia, Australia, and New Guinea (FNA 2002). There are at least two subspecies recognized. Range extent was estimated to be approximately 150 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are thousands of occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by recreational activities (including off-road vehicle use), lack of fire leading to succession, logging, invasive species, hydrological alteration, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.