Eurasian Woodrush

Basal leaves of Luzula pallidula are sparingly ciliate.

For discussion of the change of the widely known name for this species, see J. Kirschner (1990).

Plants tufted, 10--35 cm tall. Stems terete. Basal leaf blade flat, 4--15 cm × 2--5 mm, margin pilose, apex with a thick callus. Cauline leaves 2 or 3. Inflorescence subumbellate; basal involucral bract usually longer than inflorescence; flower clusters 5--15, globose-oblong, 7--12-flowered, central one subsessile, others borne on erect, straight branches. Pedicels inconspicuous, with 1 or 2 bracts at base; bracteoles broadly ovate to ovate-deltoid, margin sparsely ciliate or denticulate, apex sharply pointed. Perianth segments chestnut brown to yellowish white, lanceolate; outer segments 2--3 × 1--1.3 mm; inner segments 1.6--2.5 × 0.8--1 mm. Filaments slightly shorter to slightly longer than anthers; anthers ca. 0.8 mm. Style ca. 0.5 mm, shorter than ovary; stigmas ca. 1.5 mm. Capsule trigonous obovoid to ellipsoid, 1.8--2.l mm. Seeds ovoid, ca. 1 mm; appendage basal, ca. 0.4 mm. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jun--Aug. 2 n = 12.

Rhizomes thickened. Culms cespitose, 9--35 cm. Leaves: basal leaves 6--11.5 cm x 1.5--4 mm, apex not callous, sparingly ciliate. Inflorescences umbellate-paniculate; glomerules 4--30 (each with 9--24 flowers), central glomerules sessile or nearly sessile, cylindric, 6--10 x 4 mm; branches straight, erect, to 3 cm; proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, leaflike, equal to much longer than inflorescence; bracts clear, sometimes variegated with purple; bracteole margins dentate to lacerate. Flowers: tepals clear to straw-colored throughout or centers brown with clear margins and apex, 1.5--2.6 mm; outer whorl exceeding inner whorl, (outer whorl apex awned); anthers equaling to 1.5 times filament length. Capsules light or dark reddish, shining, spheric, usually equaling inner tepal whorl. Seeds translucent brown, ellipsoid, 0.7--1 mm; caruncle 0.2--0.3 mm. 2n = 12.

Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang [Japan, Korea, Russia; Europe, North America].

introduced; N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Que.; N.Y., Vt.; Eurasia.

Flowering and fruiting early--late summer.

Forested slopes, forest margins, disturbed grasslands, trail sides; 1100--3600 m.

Moist to wet woods, grassy places, and clearings on rocky places and barrens; 0--1000m.

Juncus pallescens Wahlenberg; Luzula pallescens (Wahlenberg) Besser