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fork wood rush

bitterroot, curved wood-rush

Rhizomes

thick.

Culms

densely cespitose, reddish, 6–30 cm × 2 mm.

Leaves

basal leaves numerous, blade to 20 cm × 4–6 mm, sometimes longer than stem, apex long-pointed to 12 mm, mostly glabrous;

cauline leaves 2–3.

Inflorescences

5–15 cm, width 1/2 to equaling length;

branches widely spreading to 90°, stiff, not drooping;

proximal bract inconspicuous, less than 2 cm;

bracts and bracteoles clear, margins slightly lacerate, often with a few cilia.

Flowers

solitary;

tepals pale brown with reddish tint, 1.8–2.4 mm, apex reflexed, long-acuminate;

outer whorl slightly longer than inner whorl;

anthers ± equaling filaments;

stigmas 3 times style length.

Capsules

deep reddish brown, shorter to slightly longer than tepals.

Seeds

light brown, 1.2 mm.

Luzula divaricata

Luzula arcuata

Phenology Flowering and fruiting summer.
Habitat Subalpine forest to alpine granitic slopes
Elevation 2100–3700 m (6900–12100 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; WA
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from FNA
AK; MT; WA; AB; BC; NT; YT; Eurasia
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Discussion

The culms of Luzula divaricata are reddish colored.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Subspecies. 2 (1 in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 22. FNA vol. 22.
Parent taxa Juncaceae > Luzula > subg. Anthelaea Juncaceae > Luzula > subg. Luzula
Sibling taxa
L. acuminata, L. arctica, L. arcuata, L. bulbosa, L. campestris, L. comosa, L. confusa, L. echinata, L. groenlandica, L. hitchcockii, L. kjellmaniana, L. luzuloides, L. multiflora, L. orestera, L. pallidula, L. parviflora, L. piperi, L. rufescens, L. spicata, L. subcapitata, L. subcongesta, L. wahlenbergii
L. acuminata, L. arctica, L. bulbosa, L. campestris, L. comosa, L. confusa, L. divaricata, L. echinata, L. groenlandica, L. hitchcockii, L. kjellmaniana, L. luzuloides, L. multiflora, L. orestera, L. pallidula, L. parviflora, L. piperi, L. rufescens, L. spicata, L. subcapitata, L. subcongesta, L. wahlenbergii
Subordinate taxa
L. arcuata subsp. unalaschkensis
Synonyms Juncus arcuatus
Name authority S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14:302. (1879) (Wahlenberg) Swartz: Summa Veg. Scand. 13. (1814)
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