Burke: Luzula divaricata vs. Luzula arcuata

	Luzula divaricata	Luzula arcuata
		curved woodrush
Habit	Grass-like, tufted perennial from rhizomes, the stems 2-5 dm. tall, usually decumbent.	Tufted, herbaceous perennials from short rhizomes, the slender stems 7-20 cm. tall.
Leaves	Basal leaves several; cauline leaves 2-4, 3-10 mm. broad.	Leaves with a closed, sheathing base and long, flat blades; basal leaves usually purplish-tinged.
Flowers	Inflorescence a diffuse, nodding panicle up to 15 cm. long; bracts somewhat lacerate, often with marginal hairs; flowers usually borne singly; perianth greenish or tawny to purplish-brown, the 6 segments 1.5-2 mm. long; anthers 0.3-0.6 mm. long, shorter than the filaments; style 0.2-0.4 mm. long, the stigmas 1 mm. long.	: Inflorescence of 2-7 small, head-like clusters, on spreading and drooping, slender branches; perianth light to dark brown, the 6 segments sub-equal, about 2 mm. long; stamens 6, the anthers shorter than the filaments.
Fruits	Capsule ovoid, greenish to purplish-brown, equalling the perianth.	Capsule ovoid, about equal to the perianth.

	Luzula divaricata	Luzula arcuata
Flowering time	May-August	July-August
Habitat	Moist to fairly dry areas, coastal rain forest to alpine slopes.	Rocky or gravelly soil, usually on moraines or above timberline.
Distribution	Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America. [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to south-central Washington, east to western Montana. [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Origin	Native	Native
Conservation status	Not of concern	Threatened in Washington (WANHP)
Sibling taxa	L. arcuata, L. campestris, L. cascadensis, L. comosa, L. forsteri, L. hitchcockii, L. macrantha, L. multiflora, L. nivea, L. parviflora, L. piperi, L. spicata, L. subsessilis, L. sylvatica	L. campestris, L. cascadensis, L. comosa, L. forsteri, L. hitchcockii, L. macrantha, L. multiflora, L. nivea, L. parviflora, L. piperi, L. spicata, L. subsessilis, L. sylvatica
Subordinate taxa		L. arcuata ssp. unalaschcensis
Web links	Local floras: CA, OR Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local floras: BC, WA Local Web sites: Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Luzula divaricata

Luzula arcuata

curved woodrush

Habit

Grass-like, tufted perennial from rhizomes, the stems 2-5 dm. tall, usually decumbent.

Tufted, herbaceous perennials from short rhizomes, the slender stems 7-20 cm. tall.

Leaves

Basal leaves several;

cauline leaves 2-4, 3-10 mm. broad.

Leaves with a closed, sheathing base and long, flat blades;

basal leaves usually purplish-tinged.

Flowers

Inflorescence a diffuse, nodding panicle up to 15 cm. long;

bracts somewhat lacerate, often with marginal hairs;

flowers usually borne singly;

perianth greenish or tawny to purplish-brown, the 6 segments 1.5-2 mm. long;

anthers 0.3-0.6 mm. long, shorter than the filaments;

style 0.2-0.4 mm. long, the stigmas 1 mm. long.

: Inflorescence of 2-7 small, head-like clusters, on spreading and drooping, slender branches;

perianth light to dark brown, the 6 segments sub-equal, about 2 mm. long;

stamens 6, the anthers shorter than the filaments.

Fruits

Capsule ovoid, greenish to purplish-brown, equalling the perianth.

Capsule ovoid, about equal to the perianth.

Luzula divaricata

Luzula arcuata

Flowering time

May-August

July-August

Habitat

Moist to fairly dry areas, coastal rain forest to alpine slopes.

Rocky or gravelly soil, usually on moraines or above timberline.

Distribution

Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]