Pale Sedge
Carex pallescens
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carex_pallescens
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
Pale Sedge belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pale Sedge faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of wet meadows, and changes in traditional land management practices have significantly reduced suitable habitat across its range, while climate change alters the hydrological conditions essential for its survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Pale Sedge occurs in damp meadows, wet grasslands, marshy areas, and the margins of bogs and fens, typically in acidic to neutral soils. It favors areas with consistent moisture but not permanent waterlogging, often in semi-natural grasslands maintained by extensive grazing or traditional hay cutting.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Pale Sedge faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of wet meadows, and changes in traditional land management practices have significantly reduced suitable habitat across its range, while climate change alters the hydrological conditions essential for its survival.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Climate change affecting soil moisture regimes
Drainage and modification of wetland habitats
Loss of traditional extensive grazing management
Habitat fragmentation and isolation
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). Pale Sedge (Carex pallescens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pale-sedge