early sedge
Carex praecox
Carex praecox, the spring sedge, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Carex, native to Europe, western Asia, and Mongolia. Its diploid chromosome number is 2n=58, with some uncertainty.
48
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Gennadiy Okatov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gennadiy Okatov
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
early sedge belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Carex praecox, the spring sedge, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Carex, native to Europe, western Asia, and Mongolia. Its diploid chromosome number is 2n=58, with some uncertainty.
Early sedge faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development of its preferred grassland and heathland environments. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in traditional land management practices, including reduced grazing and altered fire regimes, which can lead to habitat degradation through scrubland encroachment and succession to woodland.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Early sedge occurs in dry grasslands, heathlands, sand dunes, and chalk downs, typically favoring well-drained, nutrient-poor soils in open, sunny locations. The species is often found in traditionally managed pastoral landscapes and coastal grassland systems where light grazing maintains suitable habitat conditions.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and conversion
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change altering suitable habitat conditions
Habitat succession and scrubland encroachment
Loss of traditional grazing management
Found in 48 Countries
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). early sedge (Carex praecox). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/early-sedge