Murr.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154335
Element CodePMCYP03430
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 étoilé (FR) Star Sedge (EN) star 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 Date2025-07-08
Change Date1988-04-30
Edition Date2025-07-08
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 echinata is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in a variety of wetland habitats, including bogs, swamps, streams or lake shores, and wet meadows. It occurs in Eurasia, Central America, and North America from Alaska, United States east to Saskatchewan, Canada and south to Colorado and California in the western United States and Newfoundland Island, Labrador, and Nova Scotia west to Ontario, Canada and south to South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota in the eastern United States and Mexico. There are thousands of estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, rights-of-way maintenance, 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 echinata has a wide distribution, including Eurasia, Central America, and North America from Alaska, United States east to Saskatchewan, Canada and south to Colorado and California in the western United States and Newfoundland Island, Labrador, and Nova Scotia west to Ontario, Canada and south to South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota in the eastern United States and Mexico (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be over 45 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 subspecies.
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, 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.