Luzula spicata (L.) DC.
spiked wood-rush (spiked woodrush)
Juncaceae (Rush family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #5796)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Luzula spicata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial, densely tufted herb from fibrous roots; stems 10-35 cm tall.
Leaves:
Narrow, channeled, sparsely fringed with fine hairs, about 5-15 cm long, 1-2.5 mm wide, with sharp tips; sheaths brown to purplish.
Flowers:
Inflorescence solitary, dense, spike-like, drooping, with 5 to 10 clusters, each cluster with 3 to 6 flowers; perianth segments brown with paler tips, 2-3 mm long, lanceolate, tapering into long awns, the inner about the same length as the outer; stamens 6; anthers 0.4-0.6 mm long, about the same length as the filaments; bracts bristlelike, reduced.
Fruits:
Capsules, ellipsoid, pointed, shorter than the perianth segments; seeds egg-shaped, 0.9-1.1 mm long, with minute appendages.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Green
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Luzula spicata

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
2032 7 3000
Slope Gradient (%)
25 0 140

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

197 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
709
Modal BEC Zone Class
BAFA

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(169), BAFA(220), CDF(1), CMA(6), CWH(7), ESSF(174), ICH(1), IMA(96), MS(2), SWB(2)

Habitat and Range

Dry rocky slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones; frequent throughout BC; circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, disjunct E to MB, PQ and NF and S to ME, NH, VT, NY, NM, AZ and CA; Eurasia, Greenland.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Juncoides spicatum (L.) Kuntze
Luzula spicata subsp. saximontana A. Löve & D. Löve, nom. inq.