Carex scoparia

Carex scoparia Schkuhr ex Willd. (N Am.) – A very rare alien. A few plants were discovered in 2013 on the verge of an artificial water body in Hechtel. In 2014 it was also observed, in identical circumstances, in Rekkem (Menen). In the latter locality numerous plants were observed in 2015. Also in 2015, a small population was discovered in Dadizele, on the exposed banks of a recently built retention basin (along with Eleocharis engelmannii). Its vector of introduction is obscure but, at least in some cases, it may have been introduced as a contaminant in coconut matting.  

This species was, up until recently, only known from Slovakia in Europe (known since 1992 from riparian habitats along river Latorica; see: Repka & al. 1997). Since 2012 it has also been recorded in a single locality in the Netherlands (see: http://waarneming.nl/soort/view/317242), as well as in Austria (Wallnöfer & Essl 2016). It also occurs as an introduction in New Zealand where it is naturalized since 1948 (see: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/c/flora/factsheets/NZPCN_Species_3618.pdf ).

Carex scoparia is much reminiscent of C. crawfordii (and even C. ovalis) and may have been overlooked elsewhere in Europe.

Selected literature:


Bryson C.T., MacDonald J.R. & Warren R. (1994) Notes on Carex (Cyperaceae), with C. godfreyi new to Alabama and C. communis and C. scoparia new to Mississippi. Sida 16(2): 355-361. [available online at: http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9302537#page/358/mode/1up]

Kooman J. (2015) Allochtone Zeggen (Carex-soorten) in Nederland. Gorteria 37: 73-83.

Řepka R., Lustyk P. & Trávníček B. (1997) Carex scoparia – a new alien sedge in Europe. Preslia 69: 161-168.

Wallnöfer B. & Essl F. (2016) Overview on alien Carex species of section Cyperoideae (including Ovales) in Europe and the discovery of Carex scoparia in Austria. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie B, 118: 115-127.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith