L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.952606
Element CodePMCYP03KP0
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 saxatile (FR)
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 broad treatment of Carex saxatilis, including C. vesicaria var. compacta Kük, and C. vesicaria varieties distenta, jejuna, and laurentiana, as recognized (presumably) by Reznicek and Ford in FNA (2002, vol. 23). Carex vesicaria var. compacta Kük replaced the illegitimate name C. compacta R.Br. ex Dewey and the invalid name C. rotundata var. compacta B. Boivin according to IPNI (2025). Kartesz (1994) treated C. saxatilis more narrowly, excluding those taxa as distinct.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-07-17
Change Date2015-10-14
Edition Date2024-07-17
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 saxatilis is a perennial graminoid in a variety of open wetlands with a circumboreal and circumtemporal distribution occurring in North America from Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Maine in the United States north throughout Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Eurasia. Threats include development, cattle grazing, recreational activities, hydrological alteration, succession, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsCarex saxatilis is a circumboreal and circumtemporal species occurring in North America from Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Maine in the United States north throughout Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Eurasia (FNA 2002).
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 potentially threatened by development, cattle grazing, recreational activities, hydrological alteration, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.