Lam.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156719
Element CodePMCYP03G30
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
SynonymsCarex pauperculaMichx.
Other Common Namesboreal bog sedge (EN) Carex de Magellan (FR)
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 CommentsFNA (2002, vol. 23) and Kartesz (1994) treat Carex magellanica with two subspecies: C. magellanica ssp. irrigua and C. magellanica ssp. magellanica. FNA (2002, vol. 23) notes that it is a bipolar disjunct species, with the typic subspecies occurring in South America while C. magellanica ssp. irrigua has a circumboreal distribution. Given this large disjunction and morphological distinctions, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team (2025) recognize North American material at the species level as Carex paupercula.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-11
Change Date1989-12-14
Edition Date2025-07-11
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 magellanica is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in a variety of open, wetland habitats, including bogs, fens, and marshes. It has a bipolar disjunct distribution, occurring in Eurasia, South America, and North America from Alaska, United States and throughout Canada south to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. There are thousands of occurrences, which potentially face threats from development, 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, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex magellanica has a bipolar disjunct distribution, occurring in Eurasia, South America, and North America from Alaska, United States and throughout Canada south to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be over 230 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 potentially 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. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.