Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146522
Element CodePMXYR010F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCommelinales
FamilyXyridaceae
GenusXyris
Other Common Namesnorthern yelloweyed grass (EN) Xyris des montagnes (FR)
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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-05
Change Date2015-08-17
Edition Date2025-06-05
Edition AuthorsK. Crowley, MRO (1995), rev. N. Ventrella (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsXyris montana is a perennial forb occurring in bogs, fens, seeps, on the shores of lakes, streams, muskegs, or bog mats of eastern North America, from Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, south to Pennsylvania and Minnesota in the United States. There are over 300 estimated occurrences rangewide, which are threatened by development, peat mining, climate change, succession, recreation, and other anthropogenic activities impacting wetland habitats. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Xyris montana is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsXyris montana occurs in eastern North America, from Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, south to Pennsylvania and Minnesota in the United States (FNA 2022). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected 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 more than 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsThe primary threat to populations of Xyris montana is the destruction of wetland habitat through development, peat mining, and other anthropogenic activities (Dodds 2022). According to Dobbs (2022), this species is adapted to cool summers and sensitive to low winter temperatures, and hotter, drier conditions associated with climate change could be a threat. Because Xyris montana is a successional species, the removal of all local disturbance (and subsequent overgrowth by woody species) is also a threat.