Carex leptopoda

Illustrator: Susan A. Reznicek

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants loosely to densely cespitose. Culms 21–67 cm × 0.7–1.4 mm, smooth or papillose. Leaves: ligule of distal leaf (2.5–)3.4–6.8(–7.4) mm, 1.5–3 times as long as wide; blades 2.4–5.9 mm wide, widest blade 2.8–5.9 mm wide. Inflorescences (17–)34–43(–68) mm; proximal internode 4.1–16(–40) mm; proximal bract (11–)16–26(–61) mm, awn (9–)13–23(–59) mm; spikes 5–7, usually gynecandrous; proximal spikes with 2 staminate and 11–23 pistillate flowers, 8–15 × 3.3–5.8 mm; terminal spikes usually with 2–4 staminate and 16–20 pistillate flowers, 9–12.7 × 4.2–5.7 mm. Pistillate scales with whitish to stramineous margins, 2.6–3.3 × 1.2–1.8 mm, body (2.3–)2.7–3.8, apex acuminate to short-awned, awn to 0.7 mm. Staminate scales with whitish to stramineous margins, 1.9–2.8 × 1–1.3 mm. Anthers 1.8–1.9 mm. Perigynia ascending to erect, green to pale brown, 0–3-veined abaxially, prominently to weakly 0–2-veined adaxially, ovate to narrowly ovate, 3.3–3.9(–4.4) × 1.1–1.5 mm, 2.3–3 times as long as wide, apex abruptly contracted to gradually tapering; beak 0.9–1.5(–1.7) mm, (0.28–)0.3–0.38 times as long as perigynia, margins serrulate, apex entire or bidentulate, teeth to 0.3 mm, 0–0.08 times as long as perigynia. Stigmas 1.3–1.8 mm. Achenes 1.5–1.8(–1.9) × 0.9–1.4 mm, 1.2–1.5(–1.7) times as long as wide. 2n = 54.

Phenology: Fruiting spring–summer.
Habitat: Mesic to wet forests, forest edges, especially near streams
Elevation: 0–2500 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.