Small's yellow-eyed grass
CR

Small's yellow-eyed grass

Xyris smalliana

Unknown

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Xyris smalliana, Small's yelloweyed grass, is a North American species of flowering plants in the yellow-eyed-grass family. It grows on the coastal plain of the eastern and southern United States from Maine to Texas, as well as in Cuba, Central America, and the State of Tabasco in southern Mexico.

Small's yelloweyed grass faces severe threats from habitat loss due to wetland drainage, development, and agricultural conversion throughout its limited range in the southeastern United States. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small, fragmented populations make it extremely vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbance.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits wet pine savannas, seepage slopes, bog margins, and seasonally flooded sandy or peaty soils in coastal plain wetlands. Typically found in acidic, nutrient-poor wetland areas that experience periodic flooding and drying cycles.

Other threatened species in Xyridaceae

CR

Xyris grandiceps

Unknown
CR

Xyris bissei

Unknown
CR

Xyris ekmanii

Unknown
EN

Xyris pancheri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Small's yellow-eyed grass classified as Critically Endangered?
Small's yellow-eyed grass is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Small's yelloweyed grass faces severe threats from habitat loss due to wetland drainage, development, and agricultural conversion throughout its limited range in the southeastern United States. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small, fragmented populations make it extremely vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbance.
Where does Small's yellow-eyed grass live?
Small's yellow-eyed grass occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Small's yellow-eyed grass?
The main threats to Small's yellow-eyed grass are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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