BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Carex feta
green-sheathed sedge
| Scientific Name: | Carex feta |
|---|---|
| English Name: | green-sheathed sedge |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | April 30, 2019 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 30, 2019 |
| Reasons: | Carex feta is known from about 19 locations in southwestern coastal areas of BC, but expected in more sites. This pecies is subject to heavy development pressure. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | E = 5,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent is 12,759 sq km calculated using GIS tools (Alpha-hull technique). Rare in extreme southwestern British Columbia (Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island). |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | EF = 26-500 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: |
Using GIS tools and the index of occupied area this species occupies 23 four square kilometer grid cells (92 sq km). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | BC = 6 - 80 |
| Comments: | There are about 19 locations in BC, but others are expected. There is the potential to mistake this species for another introduced Carex species on the mainland. Two locations previously annotated as Carex feta have been identified as C. longii (F. Lomer, pers. comm. 2011). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | C = 4 - 12 |
| Comments: | Not all populations have been assessed for viability. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | B = 1 - 3 |
| Comments: | There are three populations in protected areas. One population is effectively protected in an Ecological Reserve (Woodley Range ER); two other populations are offered lesser levels of protection in a provincial park (Ruckle Provincial Park) and a municipal park in Victoria (Swan Lake/Christmas Hill). Effective protection in the provincial and municipal parks will depend upon adequate management plans being developed, and adhered to by all employees, contractors and subcontractors working in the parks. |
| Population Size: | C = 250 - 1,000 individuals |
| Comments: | There are about a total of 257 plants or clumps documented in BC. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Localized substantial threat |
| Comments: |
The range of this taxon is limited to heavily settled areas in the extreme southwestern portion of the province. Several populations may be subject to development pressure. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Monitoring of known populations will be necessary to determine whether the species is declining or stable. |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Insufficient historical information is available to evaluate long-term trends, but the species occurs in southern coastal BC, where many species have been adversely affected by development. |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Comments: | The species is limited to moist coastal areas in the extreme southwest of the province. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | Further inventory of the Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island are necessary to determine whether additional populations exist, and monitoring of known populations to assess their stability. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | An attempt should be made to protect the populations at Harewood Plains, near Nanaimo, which may be subject to development. |
| Management: | Managers of Ruckle Provincial Park and Christmas Hill municipal park must develop effective plans for protection of the populations occurring there. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Hartwell, S., K. Wilson and J.L. Penny |
| Date: | November 02, 2012 |
| References | |
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Batten, R. 2018. Vascular plant GeoCAT range extent and index of AOO maps supporting status assessment 2017_18 for British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. March 2018. Victoria, BC. 450 pp.
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British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. Botany Program. 2000. Database containing records of rare plant collections and observations in the province of British Columbia.
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Douglas, G.W., D. Meidinger, and J. Penny. 2002. Rare Native Vascular Plants of British Columbia, 2nd ed. B.C. Conserv. Data Centre, Terrestrial Inf. Branch, Victoria. 358pp.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2012. Conservation Status Report: Carex feta. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).