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fork wood rush

spike wood-rush

Rhizomes

thick.

Culms

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

densely cespitose, reddish, 3–33 cm, base thick, extending 1–8 cm into soil.

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.

sheath throats densely hairy;

basal leaves erect, channeled, linear, 2–15 cm × 1–4 mm, apex not callous;

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.

panicles of dense, nodding, spikelike clusters (each 1–25 mm), often interrupted by 10–70 mm;

proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, generally exceeding inflorescence;

bracts clear;

bracteoles clear, margins ciliate, apex narrow, extended.

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.

tepals brown with clear margins or very pale throughout (outer whorl bristle-pointed), 2–2.5 mm;

outer whorl longer than inner whorl;

anthers ± equaling filaments.

Capsules

deep reddish brown, shorter to slightly longer than tepals.

pale to dark brown or blackish, round (apex ± acute), generally shorter than tepals, apex ± acute.

Seeds

light brown, 1.2 mm.

brown, cylindric-ovoid, body 1–1.2 mm;

caruncle 0.2 mm.

2n

= 24.

Luzula divaricata

Luzula spicata

Phenology Flowering and fruiting summer. Flowering and fruiting summer.
Habitat Subalpine forest to alpine granitic slopes Alpine slopes and heaths, dry or damp situations among grasses, herbs, or lichens, and in subalpine forests
Elevation 2100–3700 m (6900–12100 ft) 0–3700 m (0–12100 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; WA
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[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; ME; MT; NH; NM; NV; NY; OR; UT; VT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; NL; NT; NU; QC; YT; SPM; Circumpolar; Greenland; Eurasia
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Discussion

The culms of Luzula divaricata are reddish colored.

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

The culms of Luzula spicata are thick and reddish with bases extending 1–8 cm into the soil; sheath throats are densely hairy; basal leaves are erect, linear, and channeled; inflorescence bracts are conspicuous and often exceed glomerules; and bracteoles have narrow and extended apices.

(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. arcuata, 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. subcapitata, L. subcongesta, L. wahlenbergii
Synonyms Juncus spicatus
Name authority S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14:302. (1879) (Linnaeus) de Candolle: in J. Lamarck and A. P. de Candolle, Fl. France, ed. 3 1: 161. (1805)
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