Rhynchospora leptocarpa (Chapman ex Britton) Small. Slender-fruited Beaksedge. Phen: Jul-Sep. Hab: Seepage bogs, pocosins, especially in openings. Dist: Coastal Plain: E. NC south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, west to se. LA; disjunct in s. NJ. Its occurrence in NC is reported by Sorrie et al. (1997). Its occurrence in NJ 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: = K3, K4, WH3, McMillan (2007), Naczi & Moyer (2017); = Rynchospora leptocarpa – S; < Rhynchospora capitellata (Michx.) Vahl – C, ETx1, FNA23, GW1, K1, RAB, Tx, Gale (1944); < Rynchospora glomerata var. leptocarpa Chapm. ex Britton – S13

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Wetland Indicator Status:

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

Heliophily: 9