Luzula multiflora subsp. frigida (Ehrh.) Lej. (Buchenau) Krecz.
many-flowered wood-rush (common woodrush)
Juncaceae (Rush family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

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Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Luzula multiflora subsp. frigida
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Species Information

General:
Perennial, densely tufted herb from short rhizomes, without stolons; 5-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
Flat, fringed with fine hairs, 3-15 cm long and 3-6 mm wide; sheaths green.
Flowers:
Inflorescence with about 5 to 15, stalked clusters, the clusters dense up to the base without remote basal flowers, each with 6 to 14 flowers; perianth segments pale green to dark brown, 2.5-4 mm long, lanceolate to egg-shaped, pointed or short-awned, the inner about the same length as the outer; styles slightly shorter to longer than the ovaries; stamens 6; anthers 0.6-1.2 mm long, longer than the filaments; bractlets scarcely fringed with a few hairs, less than 1/2 the length of the perianth segments; lower bract leaflike, well-developed, surpassing inflorescence or shorter.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, the tops blunt or pointed, shorter than or longer than the perianth segments; seeds spindle-shaped, 0.8-1.2 mm long, with short appendages.
Notes:
This is a variable species with two subspecies in BC:

1. Outer perianth segments pointed, inner perianth segments blunt or with short, abruptly-pointed awns; capsules pointed, longer than the perianth segments; styles 0.3-0.5 mm long; alpine zone, northern BC....................... ssp. frigida (Buch.) Krecz.

1. All perianth segments equal in shape, slenderly pointed; capsules with blunt tops, shorter than the perianth; styles 0.5-0.8 mm long; lowland or montane zones......................... ssp. multiflora

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat and Range

Dry open forests, rocky slopes and meadows in all vegetation zones; frequent throughout BC; circumpolar or disjunct cosmopolitan, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to VA, KY, IA, ND, MT, ID, and CA; Eurasia, S America, Philippines, New Zealand, Australia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Juncoides intermedium (Thuill.) Rydb.
Luzula campestris var. frigida Buchenau
Luzula frigida (Buchenau) Sam.
Luzula intermedia (Thuill.) A. Nelson
Luzula multiflora subsp. multiflora
Luzula multiflora var. frigida (Buchenau) Sam.
Luzula multiflora var. fusconigra Celak.
Luzula sudetica auct. non (Willd.) DC.
Luzula sudetica var. frigida (Buchenau) Fernald