Juncus leptocaulis Torrey & A. Gray ex Engelmann

Herbs, perennial, tufted, 1.5--3.5 dm. Rhizomes poorly developed. Culms erect, compressed, bases often swollen. Leaves: basal 2--4, cauline 1--3; auricles 0.5--1 mm, apex rounded to nearly acute; blade flat, 3--15 cm x 1--2.5 mm. Inflorescences glomerules, (1--)2--5(--10), each with (3--)6--15 flowers, open; primary bract shorter than inflorescence. Flowers: tepals straw-colored with green midstripe, lanceolate or widely so, 3.5--5 mm, margins sometimes clear; outer and inner series nearly equal; stamens 3, filaments 1.5 mm, anthers 0.5 mm; style 0.5 mm. Capsules tan to reddish brown, 3-locular, obovoid, 2.6--3.2 mm, shorter than perianth. Seeds fusiform, 0.5--0.6 mm, not tailed.

Flowering and fruiting spring--early summer. Moist, usually calcareous soils of swales or glades, occasionally in shallow water along streams; Ala., Ga., Ark., Ky., La., Miss., Okla., Tenn., Tex.