Luzula DC.
Wood rush.
Juncaceae, rush family.
Vegetative morphology. Plants perennial herbs; 2.5–35 cm high; caespitose, or not caespitose. Ground-level or under-ground stems horizontal, or vertical and often branched, or not developed horizontally or vertically; rhizomatous; compact. Aerial stems erect; circular or oval in cross-section; glabrous. Leaves in a basal tuft; alternate; existing for a single season or less, or marcescent. Petioles absent. Ligules absent. Blades 10–150 mm long; 0.6–6 mm wide. Blades straight; linear; flat, or involute; veins parallel. Blades adaxial surface glabrous. Blades abaxial surface glabrous. Blade margins with non-glandular hairs (usually with a few long unbranched hairs). Leaf apices acuminate (sometimes with calloused tips).
Reproductive morphology. Flowering stems present. Flowering stems with leaves; glabrous. Leaf or reduced bract closely associated with the base of the inflorescence present; conspicuous and leaf-like, or reduced, or scale-like. Inflorescence paniculate, or cymose, or head-like; dense, or diffuse; 0.5–8 cm long. Pedicels present, or absent. Flowers per inflorescence 5–80; small, less than 5 mm in diameter or length. Floral bracts apex lacerate. Calyx sepals 3; free. Calyx brown; scarious; glabrous. Petals free; same length as the calyx; 3; brown; ovate, or lanceolate; unlobed; 1.8–4 mm long. Stamens 6. Anthers 0.4–0.9 mm long. Gynoecia superior. Carpels syncarpous; 3. Styles 1. Stigmas per style 3. Ovules 3. Fruit sessile. Fruit with calyx persisting; dry; a capsule; ovoid; not distinctly flattened; dehiscent. Fruit 1.3–2.8 mm long; 0.9–1.3 mm wide; brown. Styles may persist until dehiscence but are not modified. Seeds 3; 0.9–1.6 mm long; brown; with surfaces smooth.
Chromosome information. 2n = 12, 14, 20, 22, 24, 36, 48.
Distribution. Northern hemisphere distribution: circumpolar; Greenland, Canada. Arctic, or alpine. Range in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago widespread, or limited, or moderate. Common, or uncommon.
Ecology and habitat. Habitats: In Lam. & DC., nom. cons., Fl. Franc., éd. 3, 1: 198. 1805.
Cite this publication as: ‘S.G. Aiken, M.J. Dallwitz, L.L. Consaul, C.L. McJannet, L.J. Gillespie, R.L. Boles, G.W. Argus, J.M. Gillett, P.J. Scott, R. Elven, M.C. LeBlanc, A.K. Brysting and H. Solstad. 1999 onwards. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval. Version: 29th April 2003. http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/’. Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993, 1995, 2000) should also be cited (see References).