Curved Sedge
Carex maritima
Carex maritima, aptly named curved sedge in English, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family which occurs throughout the subarctic regions and in mountains as far south as North Africa. It grows in sandy and grassy places on beaches or eroding mountainsides, in populations that fluctuate dramatically according to the stability of the vegetation.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carex_maritima
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
Curved Sedge belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Carex maritima, aptly named curved sedge in English, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family which occurs throughout the subarctic regions and in mountains as far south as North Africa. It grows in sandy and grassy places on beaches or eroding mountainsides, in populations that fluctuate dramatically according to the stability of the vegetation. It is considered rare and threatened towards the southern edge of its range.
Curved Sedge faces significant threats from coastal development and habitat modification along its specialized shoreline environments. Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity due to climate change pose additional risks to its narrow coastal habitat range, while human activities including recreation and infrastructure development continue to degrade suitable sites.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Curved Sedge inhabits coastal salt marshes, sandy shores, and rocky coastlines, typically growing in saline or brackish conditions near the high tide mark. The species is adapted to maritime environments with salt spray exposure and periodic tidal influence.
Threats
Coastal development and urbanization
Sea level rise and coastal erosion
Habitat fragmentation
Recreational disturbance
Storm surge and extreme weather events
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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Curved Sedge (Carex maritima). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/curved-sedge