R. Br.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160465
Element CodePMCYP039D1
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusCarex
SynonymsCarex norvegica ssp. inferalpina(Wahlenb.) Hulten
Other Common NamesCarex moyen (FR) Closed-head Sedge (EN) closedhead 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 CommentsMurray in FNA (2002, vol. 23) recognizes Carex media as a species, distinct from Carex norvegica. Kartesz (1994, 1999) recognized this taxon as Carex norvegica ssp. inferalpina.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-14
Change Date2015-07-03
Edition Date2025-07-14
Edition AuthorsGreene, L. (1983), rev. Soteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsCarex media is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in forest openings, meadows, and bog margins. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring in Eurasia and northern North America from Alaska, United States east to the Northwestern Territories, Labrador, and New Brunswick, Canada, with extensions southward in the United States to the mountains of Montana, Oregon, and Washington, the driftless area of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and Maine. There are over 1,000 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, grazing and trampling by cattle, mining, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, invasive species, erosion from flooding and ice scouring. 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 media has a circumboreal distribution, occurring in Eurasia and northern North America from Alaska, United States east to the Northwestern Territories, Labrador, and New Brunswick, Canada, "with extensions southward to the mountains of Montana, Oregon, and Washington, the driftless area of Iowa[, Minnesota,] and Wisconsin, and the maritime provinces of eastern Canada" and Maine (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 50 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 1,000 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, grazing and trampling by cattle, mining, rights-of-way maintenance, recreational activities, invasive species, erosion from flooding and ice scouring, 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.