Luzula spicata |
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spike wood-rush |
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Culms | densely cespitose, reddish, 3–33 cm, base thick, extending 1–8 cm into soil. |
Leaves | sheath throats densely hairy; basal leaves erect, channeled, linear, 2–15 cm × 1–4 mm, apex not callous; cauline leaves 2–3. |
Inflorescences | 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 | 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 | pale to dark brown or blackish, round (apex ± acute), generally shorter than tepals, apex ± acute. |
Seeds | brown, cylindric-ovoid, body 1–1.2 mm; caruncle 0.2 mm. |
2n | = 24. |
Luzula spicata |
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Phenology | Flowering and fruiting summer. |
Habitat | Alpine slopes and heaths, dry or damp situations among grasses, herbs, or lichens, and in subalpine forests |
Elevation | 0–3700 m (0–12100 ft) |
Distribution |
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 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. |
Parent taxa | Juncaceae > Luzula > subg. Luzula |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | Juncus spicatus |
Name authority | (Linnaeus) de Candolle: in J. Lamarck and A. P. de Candolle, Fl. France, ed. 3 1: 161. (1805) |
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