Luzula arcuata (Wahlenb.) Sw.
Curved Woodrush (bitterroot; curved wood-rush)
Juncaceae (Rush family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

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Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Luzula arcuata
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Luzula arcuata ssp. unalaschcensis

Species Information

General:
Perennial, loosely tufted herb from short rhizomes; stems 10-25 cm tall.
Leaves:
Flat or channeled, sparsely fringed with fine hairs, about 5-15 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, gradually tapering to sharp tips; basal sheaths reddish-brown, dull.
Flowers:
Inflorescence open, with 5 to 10, dark to blackish brown, dense clusters of 3 to 6 flowers on long, spreading stalks, the outer clusters on arching stalks; perianth segments brown, 2-3 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, pointed, 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; bractlets strongly fringed with coarse hairs, nearly equal or sometimes surpassing the flowers; lower bract poorly developed.
Fruits:
Capsules, ellipsoid, pointed, shorter than the perianth segments; seeds cylindrical to egg-shaped, dark brown, 1-1.2 mm long, with minute appendages, with a few short threads at the base.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Luzula arcuata

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)
1966 1000 2375
Slope Gradient (%)
16 0 75

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

197 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
78
Modal BEC Zone Class
BAFA

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

AT(6), BAFA(41), ESSF(7), IMA(20), MH(1), SWB(2)

Habitat and Range

Dry to moist meadows in the subalpine and alpine zones; infrequent throughout BC, except absent in NE BC; amphiberingian, N to AK, YT and NT, E to AB and S to MT and WA; E Asia.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia