Description

General - loosely tufted perennial from thread-like creeping rhizomes; stems very slender, 10 - 60 cm tall.

Leaves - shorter than flowering stems, 0.5 - 1.3 mm wide.

Flower Cluster - single, 1 - 10 flowered spike, 4 - 15 mm long, with male flowers at tip.

Perigynia - 2 - 5 mm long, greenish with distinctive, rounded tip, hairless, many veins; scales much shorter than perigynia, greenish to brownish, translucent edges, green midvein; 3 short stigmas.

Habitat

Treed fens, moist woodlands and thickets; widespread across Northwestern Ontario's boreal forest.

Notes

The species named leptalea comes from the Greek lepto, 'thin' or 'slender', in reference to the very slender, weak stems and leaves.

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