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

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #6639)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

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

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

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Luzula multiflora

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)
482 0 2040
Slope Gradient (%)
27 0 210

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

172 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
280
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH

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

AT(3), BAFA(2), CDF(26), CMA(3), CWH(131), ESSF(13), ICH(2), IDF(6), MH(19), MS(1), PP(1), SBS(1)

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