Muhl. ex Willd.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128657
Element CodePMCYP035F0
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 granuleux (FR) limestone meadow sedge (EN) Limestone Meadow 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 CommentsFNA (2002, vol. 23) and Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team (2024) do not recognize varieties of Carex granularis.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-09
Change Date1984-02-29
Edition Date2025-07-09
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 granularis is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in a variety of open, calcarerous habitats, including meadows, fens, glades, or shores, ditches, moist woods, and bottomland swamps. It occurs in eastern North America from Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada west to Saskatchewan and south in the United States to the Florida panhandle, Texas, and Wyoming. There are over 1,800 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, quarrying, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, 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 granularis occurs in eastern North America from Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada west to Saskatchewan and south in the United States to the Florida panhandle, Texas, and Wyoming (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). It "is widely distributed and common across the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada, but not on the Coastal Plain or in the high Appalachians" (FNA 2002).Range extent was estimated to be approximately 6 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 over 1,800 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, quarrying, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, 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, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.