Leptocarpus is a genus of dioeceous rush-like perennial plants described as a genus in 1810.Brown, Robert. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum 250 in Latin
The genus as currently conceived is entirely endemic to Australia. A few species native to other places were formerly included, but they have been moved to other genera.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesMoore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta - Monocotyledons except Graminae. First electronic edition, Landcare Research, June 2004. Transcr. A.D. Wilton and I.M.L. Andres. http://FloraSeries.LandcareResearch.co.nz.
Species The following species are accepted as of 2021:
Leptocarpus canus Nees Leptocarpus coangustatus Nees Leptocarpus crassipes Pate & Meney Leptocarpus crebriculmis B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus decipiens B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus denmarkicus (Suess.) B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus depilatus B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus kraussii B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus laxus (R.Br.) B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus roycei B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus scariosus R.Br. Leptocarpus scoparius B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus tenax (Labill.) R.Br. Leptocarpus tephrinus B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus thysananthus B.G.Briggs Leptocarpus trisepalus (Nees) B.G.Briggs
Formerly included Over 70 other names have been published using the name Leptocarpus, but they have been transferred to other genera, including the following:
Apodasmia, Chaetanthus, Dapsilanthus, Empodisma, Hydrophilus, Hypolaena, Lepyrodia, Meeboldina, Restio, Rhodocoma, Staberoha, Willdenowia.
Name in homonymic genus In 1820, the name Leptocarpus was applied to some plants in the Verbenaceae. Thus was created an illegitimate homonym. One species name was included in the illegitimate genus, i.e.: Leptocarpus chamaedrifolius – Tamonea spicata
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