''Carex rupestris'', called the curly sedge and rock sedge (names it shares with other members of its genus), is a species of flowering plant in the family

Cyperaceae The Cyperaceae () are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as wikt:sedge, sedges. The family (biology), family is large; botanists have species description, described some 5,500 known species in about 90 ...

, native to temperate and subarctic North America, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, and Asia.

Description

''Carex rupestris'' is a type of sedge, growing between in height. It grows in dense, matted tufts.

Rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...

branch lengths measure . Aerial shoots ascend from the rhizome, with dead leaves persisting for several years and giving the stands a typical straw-yellow colour, recognizable at a distance. Leaves are up to wide and channelled, appearing at the base of the stem. The inflorescence is composed of a single spike at the top of the stem. Rhizomes are brown or black, with a scaly appearance. The species fruits in late spring to summer.

Distribution and habitat

''Carex rupestris'' is an arctic-alpine species found at higher altitudes. It favours dry ground, heathland, talus slopes, and rocky outcrops and ledges. ''Carex rupestris'' subsp. ''altimontana'' is found only in the

Altai Republic The Altai Republic, also known as the Gorno-Altai Republic, is a republic of Russia located in southern Siberia. The republic borders Kemerovo Oblast to the north, Khakassia to the northeast, Tuva to the east, Altai Krai to the west, as well ...

of Russia.

Taxonomy

The following subspecies are currently accepted: *''Carex rupestris'' subsp. ''altimontana'' *''Carex rupestris'' subsp. ''rupestris''

Conservation

''Carex rupestris'' is considered an endangered species across the

Carpathian Mountains The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Ural Mountains, Urals at and the Scandinav ...

due to the effect of climate change. It is

extirpated Local extinction, also extirpation, is the termination of a species (or other taxon) in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinctions. Local extinctions mark a chan ...

in Bulgaria. In North America, ,

NatureServe NatureServe, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, US, that provides proprietary wildlife conservation-related data, tools, and services to private and government clients, partner organizations, and ...

listed ''C. rupestris'' as Globally Secure (G5). This status was last reviewed on . In individual provinces and states, it is listed as Critically Imperiled (S1) in

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

; Imperiled (S2) in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, and

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

; and, Vulnerable (S3) in

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

and

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q159706 rupestris Flora of Europe Flora of the North Caucasus Flora of Siberia Flora of Kazakhstan Flora of the Russian Far East Flora of Mongolia Flora of Korea Flora of Subarctic America Flora of Western Canada Flora of Eastern Canada Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of South Dakota Flora of Utah Flora of New Mexico Plants described in 1785