Flora of the Southeastern United States

Rhynchospora leptocarpa (Chapman ex Britton) Small. Common name: Slender-fruited Beaksedge. Phenology: Jul-Sep. Habitat: Seepage bogs, pocosins, especially in openings. Distribution: Coastal Plain: E. North Carolina south to ne. Florida, Panhandle Florida, west to se. Louisiana; disjunct in s. New Jersey. Its occurrence in North Carolina is reported by Sorrie et al. (1997). Its occurrence in New Jersey is reported by Moyer & Naczi (2016).

ID notes: For decades this species was lumped into its sister species R. capitellata. However, R. leptocarpa has several distinguishing features: plants form dense clumps, stems and leaves are paler green and usually glaucescent, stems are lazy and lean over or even rest parallel to the ground (vs. erect in R. capitellata), there are 4-8 spikelet clusters (vs. 3-5), and clusters are pale tawny (vs. dark brown). It has a more southerly distribution.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: R. leptocarpa is a valid species, a southeastern Coastal Plain relative of the more northern and montane R. capitellata (Sorrie 2000; Moyer & Naczi 2016; Naczi & Moyer 2016).

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, NSProv, POWO, WH3, McMillan (2007), Naczi & Moyer (2017); = Rynchospora leptocarpa — S; < Rhynchospora capitellata (Michx.) Vahl — C, ETx1, FNA23, GW1, K1, NS, RAB, Tx, Gale (1944); < Rynchospora glomerata var. leptocarpa Chapm. ex Britton — S13. Basionym: Rhynchospora glomerata (L.) Vahl var. leptocarpa Chapm. ex Britton 1892

Links to other floras: < Rhynchospora capitellata - FNA23

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 9