Carex pallidula
Local name: åsstarr
Åsstarr (Carex pallidula) is a distinctive sedge species characterized by its pale, slender culms and narrow leaves that form loose tufts. This perennial grass-like plant produces inconspicuous brownish flower spikes and plays an important role in stabilizing soil and providing habitat structure in specialized wetland ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Małgorzata Śliż, niektoré práva vyhradené (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Małgorzata Śliż
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
Carex pallidula belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Åsstarr (Carex pallidula) is a distinctive sedge species characterized by its pale, slender culms and narrow leaves that form loose tufts. This perennial grass-like plant produces inconspicuous brownish flower spikes and plays an important role in stabilizing soil and providing habitat structure in specialized wetland ecosystems.
Åsstarr (Carex pallidula) faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss due to agricultural expansion, drainage of wetlands, and urban development in its specialized wetland habitats. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that affect the hydrology of its sensitive bog and fen ecosystems. The species' restricted distribution and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This sedge species inhabits nutrient-poor wetland environments including bogs, fens, wet meadows, and marshy areas, typically in acidic to neutral soils with consistent moisture levels. It occurs in both natural peatland systems and semi-natural grasslands that maintain appropriate hydrological conditions.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and intensification
Wetland drainage and conversion
Climate change impacts on hydrology
Habitat fragmentation
Urban development and infrastructure
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Carex pallidula (Carex pallidula). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/asstarr