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Blackened Sedge - Carex atrosquama
Other Names:
Carex atrata var atrosquama
Native Species
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value:
5
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report.
Carex atrosquama is widespread across higher elevation mountain ranges in western and central Montana. Occurrences are mostly in relatively remote areas, which limits the potential for negative impacts. No significant and widespread threats to the species are known besides potential impacts associated with climate change. Population levels are poorly documented, though are believed to be fairly robust, and trends are unknown though populations have likely been relatively stable in the recent past or experienced only minor declines.
General Description
Caespitose with old leaves at the often reddish base. Stems erect, 10–45 cm. Leaves basal and lower-cauline; blades 1–4 mm wide. Inflorescence of 3 to 5 short-pedunculate, ascending to erect, loosely clustered spikes. Spikes 10–18 mm long, all similar; male flowers basal on uppermost spike otherwise all female. Perigynia green to purplish, elliptic, 3–4 mm long, scabrous on the margins; beaks 0.3–0.5 mm long; stigmas 3. Female scales blackish throughout, as long or barely shorter than the perigynia but nearly as broad. Achene 3-sided, partly filling the perigynium (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
AK to NT south to UT and CO (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 45
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?
Hodgson, J.R. 1970. Ecological distribution of Microtus montanus and Microtus pennsylvanicus in an area of geographic sympatry in southwestern Montana. Ph.D. Dissertation. Bozeman, Montana: Montana State University. 65 p.- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Saunders, J.K. Jr. 1955. Food habits and range use of the Rocky Mountain goat in the Crazy Mountains, Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management 19(4):429-437.
- Saunders, J.K., Jr. 1954. A two-year investigation of the food habits and range use of the Rocky Mountain goat in the Crazy Mountains, Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 22 p.
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