L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1369301
Element CodePMCYP03PC0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Concept ReferenceFlora 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.
Taxonomic CommentsThis record is for the narrow treatment of Carex vesicaria, excluding C. vesicaria var. distenta, var. jejuna, and var. laurentiana, as apparently recognized by Reznicek and Ford in FNA (2002, vol. 23). Kartesz (1994, 1999) included these as recognized varieties of C. vesicaria, FNA presumably includes them in C. saxatilis (not accepted as distinct varieties).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-08
Change Date2025-10-08
Edition Date2025-10-08
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 vesicaria is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in swamps, wet thickets, wet depressions in forests, marshes, sedge meadows, spring marshes, bogs, mafic fens, depression ponds, and shores of streams, ponds, and lakes. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring in Eurasia and North America from Newfoundland Island and Nova Scotia west to British Columbia (except Saskatchewan) in Canada south in the United States to North Carolina, Missouri, Arizona, and California. There are thousands of estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, rights-of-way maintenance, succession, hydrological alteration, 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 vesicaria has a circumboreal distribution, occurring in Eurasia and North America from Newfoundland Island and Nova Scotia west to British Columbia (except Saskatchewan) in Canada south in the United States to North Carolina, Missouri, Arizona, and California (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be over 50 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 thousands of 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, rights-of-way maintenance, succession, 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, large number of occurrences, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.