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Carex laxiculmis

Schwein.

Spreading Sedge

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132811
Element CodePMCYP03750
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
Other Common Names
Carex à tiges faibles (FR) spreading sedge (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, 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 Comments
This record is for the broad treatment of Carex laxiculmis, including C. laxiculmis var. copulata, as recognized by Bryson and Naczi in FNA (2002, vol. 23) and Kartesz (1994, 1999). Weakley et al. (2024) recognize that taxon as a distinct species, C. copulata, and thus a narrower concept of C. laxiculmis. However, Weakley et al. (2024) note, "There is controversy over the validity of the combination at species rank."
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-07-11
Change Date1988-02-11
Edition Date2024-07-11
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Carex laxiculmis is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in forested habitats occurring in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to South Carolina west to Oklahoma in the United States with two varieties. Threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, recreational activities (especially off-road vehicles), and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Carex laxiculmis occurs in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to South Carolina west to Oklahoma in the United States (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the two varieties. Range extent was estimated to be over 2.3 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By 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 over 500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, recreational activities (especially off-road vehicles), invasive species, and other threats in some places.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Carex laxiculmis grows in "low, wet, deciduous or mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, mesic slopes to along edges of springs, seeps, and streams, usually clay soils" and floodplains or alluvial forests (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS4Yes
QuebecSNRYes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
VermontS3Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
DelawareSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
KentuckyS3Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
IndianaS5Yes
MissouriS4Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
MaineS2Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
MinnesotaS2Yes
New JerseySNRYes
IowaS3Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
IllinoisS1Yes
South CarolinaSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
References (8)
  1. Flora 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.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, 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.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  6. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.