Raleigh Sedge - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Carex raleighii

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 21 Sep 2021

Description

Raleigh Sedge is a small and inconspicuous perennial sedge that grows from underground stems (rhizomes) to 25 cm tall. Its leaves and stem are very thin and wiry. Up to five flowering spikes are clustered towards the ends of the stems, with a leaf-like process (bracts) extending well beyond them. It differs from the similar and associated Carex hebes in having narrower leaves (less than 1 mm, compared to 2.5 mm) and longer, narrower flower-stems (those of C. hebes are generally less than 20 cm long). Unlike C. hebes, its flower-spike is longer than broad.

Distribution

In NSW Raleigh Sedge is found only in areas above about 1000 metres on the Southern Tablelands. Most populations are in Kosciuzsko National Park (eg. Charlottes Pass area, Muellers Pass, Tantangara area and the upper Tooma and Tumut valleys). Also occurs in vicinity of Snowy Plain (private land and travelling stock reserve) and on the coastal escarpment at the headwaters of Tantawangalo Creek within South East Forests National Park.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in sphagnum bogs and high mountain wetlands, as well as damp grasslands and stream-edges of sub-alpine plains.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

The habitat of this species is at risk from feral pigs and horses.
Populations on private land may be threatened by cattle grazing
Water release from Tantagara dam causing destruction of Carex raleighii habitat.
Full extent of threats unknown.
Invasion and encroachment into suitable habitat by Ox-eye daisy
Lack of distributional information.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 7 priority actions to help recover the Raleigh Sedge in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Undertake pig, deer and wild horse control in the vicinity of sites.
Restrict trampling by stock of wetland vegetation where Raleigh Sedge has been recorded

Information sources

McDougall, K.L. and Walsh, N.G. (2007) Treeless vegetation of the Australian Alps. Cunninghamia 10(1): 1-57
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2001) Approved Recovery Plan for the Threatened Alpine Flora Anemone Buttercup (Ranunculus anemoneus), Feldmark Grass (Erythranthera pumila), Raleigh Sedge (Carex raleighii) & Shining Cudweed (Euchiton nitidulus) and other threatened alpine flora. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1994) Flora of Victoria. Volume 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
Wilson, K.L. (1993) Carex. Pp 385-396 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 4. (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Australian Alps	Snowy Mountains	Known	Above 1100 m altitude
South Eastern Highlands	Kybeyan-Gourock	Predicted	None

Images

Illustration, Raleigh Sedge, Georgina Davis
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