Muhl. ex Willd.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.147074
Element CodePMCYP03710
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
SynonymsCarex lanuginosaauct. non Michx.
Other Common NamesCarex laineux (FR) woolly sedge (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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.
Taxonomic CommentsGleason and Cronquist (1991) say that the name C. lanuginosa has been misapplied and that the recognized name is C. pellita. Dr. Anton (Tony) Reznicek concurs (Michigan Heritage Program 1993). In the sense of Kartesz (1999), plants formerly called Carex lanuginosa var. americana are C. lasiocarpa var. americana; all other plants called C. lanuginosa within his range are C. pellita; hence C. lanuginosa in the sense of Kartesz occurs only outside of North America (north of Mexico). Note also that Kartesz in his 1999 list omitted the period after the author abbreviation for Muhlenberg (Muhl.).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-12
Change Date1984-04-05
Edition Date2025-08-12
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 pellita is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in a variety of open wetland habitats, including meadows, fens, marshes, stream banks, lakeshores, open carrs, depression swamps, and low dunes, especially on calcareous soils. It occurs throughout North America from Alaska, United States, and Canada (except Nunavut and Labrador) south to North Carolina west to Arkansas, Texas, and California in the United States and Mexico. There are over 2,000 estimated occurrences, which face threats from development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, hydrological alteration, 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 pellita occurs throughout North America from Alaska, United States, and Canada (except Nunavut and Labrador) south to North Carolina west to Arkansas, Texas, and California in the United States and Mexico (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be 19 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 2000 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, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, hydrological alteration, 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, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.