Luzula DC.
Wood rush.
Juncaceae, rush family.
Plants caespitose, or not caespitose; less than 15 cm high, or more than 15 cm high; 2.5–35 cm high. Ground-level or under-ground stems horizontal, or vertical and often branched, or not developed horizontally or vertically underground; rhizomatous; compact. Aerial stems erect; circular or oval in cross-section; glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; alternate; deciduous, or marcescent. Petioles absent. Ligules absent. Blades 10–150 mm long; 0.6–6 mm wide; straight; linear; flat, or involute; with parallel veins; glabrous (on surface); adaxial surface glabrous. Blades abaxial surface glabrous. Leaf margins with non-glandular hairs (usually with a few long unbranched hairs). Leaf apices acuminate (sometimes with calloused tips).
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. Inflorescences paniculate, or cymose, or head-like; inflorescence dense, or diffuse; inflorescence 0.5–8 cm long. Flowers per inflorescence 5–80; small, less than 5 mm in diameter or length; sessile or subsessile. Floral bracts apex lacerate. Calyx sepals 3; free; brown; scarious; glabrous. Petals 3; free; brown; ovate, or lanceolate; unlobed; 1.8–4 mm long; same length as the calyx. Stamens 6. Anthers 0.4–0.9 mm long. Carpels syncarpous; 3. Gynoecia superior. Styles completely fused. Styles 1. Stigmas per style 3. Ovules 3. Fruit with calyx persisting; a capsule; ovoid; not distinctly flattened; dehiscent; 1.3–2.8 mm long; 0.9–1.3 mm wide; sessile; dry; brown. Seeds 3; 0.9–1.6 mm long; brown; smooth.
Chromosome information. 2n = 12, 14, 20, 22, 24, 36, 48.
Distribution. Circumpolar. Arctic, or alpine. Range in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago widespread, or limited, or moderate. Common, or uncommon.
Ecology and habitat. Substrates, wet meadows; acidic.
Cite this publication as: ‘S.G. Aiken, M.J. Dallwitz, L.L.Consaul, R.L. Boles, R. Elven and M.E. LeBlanc. 2001 onwards. Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Volume 1. Pteridophytes and Monocotyledons: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval. Version: 16th March 2001. http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/’. Dallwitz (1980), Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993, 1995, 2000), and Aiken, Dallwitz et al. (1999) should also be cited (see References).