Carex exilis
{{Short description|Species of grass-like plant in the sedge family}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Carex exilis drawing 1.png
| image2 = Carex exilis 15-p.bot-carex.exili-1.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Carex
| display_parents = 2
| parent = Carex sect. Stellulatae
| species = exilis
| authority = Dewey
| synonyms =
| synonyms_ref = {{Cite POWO | id = 299683-1 | title = Carex exilis Dewey | access-date = 13 November 2024 }}
}}
Carex exilis, common name coastal sedge{{PLANTS|id=CAEX7|taxon=Carex exilis|accessdate=10 November 2017}} or meager sedge, is a species of grass-like plant in the Cyperaceae family. It is native to North America and Canada, with several disjunct populations from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast.{{BONAP|ref|genus=Carex|species=exilis|accessdate=15 April 2019}}
Description
Carex exilis is a densely tufted, tussock-forming plant, with stiff, smooth stems reaching 12–80 cm. in height. Leaves number between 2–6 per stem. Inflorescences usually take the form of solitary spikes.{{Cite web |title=World Flora Online |url=https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000346480;jsessionid=B03C47E8AE7F87C77D7D318FFC18297B#distributionMap |website=World Flora Online}}
Distribution and habitat
Carex exilis favours wetland, acidic conditions such as sphagnum bogs, peatlands and fens{{Cite web |title=Coastal sedge (Carex exilis) |url=https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Carex_exilis.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=PictureThis |language=en}} and other wet, low, open places.[https://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000346480;jsessionid=B03C47E8AE7F87C77D7D318FFC18297B#distributionMap]
Although not classed as a conservation risk by the IUCN across most of its distribution range, it is listed as an endangered species in Connecticut by state authorities.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/nongame/ets15.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-11-10 |archive-date=2018-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143509/http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/nongame/ets15.pdf |url-status=dead }}