Carex leptalea subsp. leptalea Wahlenb.
Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #60820)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Carex leptalea subsp. leptalea
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial, densely tufted herb from slender rhizomes; stems 15-70 cm tall, slightly shorter to longer than the leaves.
Leaves:
Sheaths tight, concave to blunt at the mouths; blades 2 to 3 per stem, flat or channeled, borne on the lower 1/4 of the stem, about 0.7-1.5 mm wide.
Fruits:
Perigynia few, cylindrical or elliptical, 2.5-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, yellowish-green to pale green, many nerved, long-stalked, the tips blunt, more or less entire, beakless; male scales rounded to pointed at the tips, fused below, appressed, yellowish
Notes:
Two subspecies can be distinguished in BC:

1. Female scales rounded; perigynia 2.5-3.5 mm long; E of the Coast-Cascade Mountains.................. ssp. leptalea

1. Female scales long-pointed to awned; perigynia 3.5-5 mm long; W of the Coast-Cascade Mountains................. ssp. pacifica Calder & Taylor

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Carex leptalea ssp. leptalea

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
736 440 1220
Slope Gradient (%)
1 0 2

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

180 180 180
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
6 6 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
PP

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BWBS(1), ESSF(1), PP(1)

Habitat and Range

Bogs, swamps, shorelines and fens in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent throughout BC west (ssp. pacifica) and east (ssp. leptalea) of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; ssp. pacifica - N to AK and YT; ssp. leptalea - N to AK, YT, NT, E to NF and S to ME, PA, NC, TN, AR, OK, NM, UT and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Carex leptalea var. tayloris Boivin