Flea Sedge
Carex pulicaris
Carex pulicaris, the flea sedge, is a species of sedge in the genus Carex native to Europe.
36
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carex_pulicaris
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
Flea Sedge belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Carex pulicaris, the flea sedge, is a species of sedge in the genus Carex native to Europe.
Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species requires specific hydrological conditions in calcareous fens and wet meadows, which have been severely reduced through drainage, agricultural intensification, and changes in land management practices.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Carex pulicaris is found across much of Europe, from Spain to Estonia and north to Iceland and Fennoscandia, but excluding the Mediterranean region. It grows in a variety of wet habitats, including bogs, fens and wet flushes.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. The species requires specific hydrological conditions in calcareous fens and wet meadows, which have been severely reduced through drainage, agricultural intensification, and changes in land management practices.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Changes in water table and hydrological regime
Habitat drainage and wetland destruction
Abandonment of traditional grazing management
Eutrophication from agricultural runoff
Found in 36 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). Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/flea-sedge