Michx.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.156566
Element CodePMCYP039Q0
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 oligosperme (FR) Few-fruited Sedge (EN) Few-seeded Sedge (EN) fewseed 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 (2025) do not recognize varieties of Carex oligosperma.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-14
Change Date2010-01-31
Edition Date2025-07-14
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 oligosperma is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid found in a variety of open wetland habitats, including bogs, poor fens, seeps, open swamps, marshes, lakeshores, and riverbanks. It occurs in eastern North America from Newfoundland Island and Nova Scotia west to Nunavut, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories, Canada south in the United States to Connecticut west to Minnesota, and disjunct southwards at high elevations in West Virginia and North Carolina. There are approximately 900 occurrences, which face threats from development, oil sands extraction, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, succession, 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 CommentsCarex oligosperma occurs in eastern North America from Newfoundland Island and Nova Scotia west to Nunavut, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories (historic), Canada south in the United States to Connecticut (historic), central Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, northern Indiana west to Minnesota, and disjunct southwards at high elevations in northeastern West Virginia and western North Carolina (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 6.5 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 approximately 900 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, oil sands extraction, rights-of-way maintenance, hydrological alteration, succession, 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.