Brown Galingale
Cyperus fuscus
Cyperus fuscus, also known as brown galingale or brown flatsedge, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_fuscus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Cyperus
Brown Galingale belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Cyperus fuscus, also known as brown galingale or brown flatsedge, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was introduced into North America.
Brown Galingale (Cyperus fuscus) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems. The species' specialized requirements for temporary pools and muddy margins make it particularly vulnerable to drainage, agricultural conversion, and water management changes that alter natural flooding cycles.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Cyperus fuscus is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa from England, Portugal and Morocco eastward to China and Thailand. In China, it is found in swamps, river margins, and other wet places including paddy fields. Cyperus fuscus was introduced into North America where it is naturalized in widely scattered locations in the United States and Canada. European botanists were aware of its...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Brown Galingale (Cyperus fuscus) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems. The species' specialized requirements for temporary pools and muddy margins make it particularly vulnerable to drainage, agricultural conversion, and water management changes that alter natural flooding cycles.
Agricultural intensification
Water management and hydrological changes
Wetland drainage and conversion
Climate change affecting precipitation patterns
Urban development
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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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
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Brown Galingale (Cyperus fuscus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brown-galingale