Species: Luzula acuminata var. acuminata Raf.

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Luzula acuminata var. acuminata Raf.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Juncaceae

Genus:

Luzula

Species Synonyms:

Juncoides saltuense (Fern.) Heller
Luzula pilosa (L.) Willd.
Luzula salutensis Fern.
Luzula carolinae var. saltuensis (Fern.) Fern.
Luzula pilosa var. saltuensis (Fern.) Boivin

Common Names:

hairy woodrush

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

central Alberta – central Saskatchewan – central Manitoba – Ontario – Quebec – southern Newfoundland – Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan:

central Saskatchewan; Glaslyn – Pasquia Hills

Ecoregion:

Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, Churchill River Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

woods and shrubby fens

Associated Species:

Betula nana, Carex foena var. foena, Carex vaginata, Cornus canadensis, Equisetum scirpoides, Larix laricina, Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Viola renifolia

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Luzula acuminata var. acuminata is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon. This species is only somewhat regionally restricted, but most local populations are small. No immediate threats are known at the present time.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

10 – 40 cm tall

Roots:

rhizomes similar to stolons

Culms:

stolons to 6 cm, scale-like leaves present; erect culms loosely caespitose, 3 – 5 mm wide

Leaves:

basal leaves to 32 cm long, 2 – 10 mm wide, hairy; cauline 2 – 4, 2 – 4 cm long, 2 – 5 mm wide; sheaths reddish, throats pilose

Inflorescence:

umbel simple, secondary branches usually absent; bracts stramineus; pedicels single or paired, erect to spreading, 1 – 4 cm long

Flowers:

bracteoles lanceolate to ovate, 1/3 to 1/2 tepal length; tepals 3 – 4.5 mm long, pale to dark brown, margin entire and scarious; anthers 2 times filament length; stigmas equalling style

Fruits:

capsules exceeding tepals, beak a mucro, green to stramineus; seeds to 2.5 mm long (including caruncle), reddish to brown

LUZULA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Flowers a simple umbel or 2 – 3 at the ends of stalks; leaves > 5 mm broad; rhizomes well-developed	2
1 Flowers sessile or subsessile in dense clusters; leaves < 5 mm broad; rhizomes absent or poorly developed	3

2 Leaves long-hairy; inflorescence a simple umbel; flowers 2.5 – 4.5 mm long; seeds with a long, curved tail-like appendage (caruncle)	L. acuminata var. acuminata
2 Leaves essentially glabrous except at the top of the sheath; inflorescence with 2 – 3 flowers at the ends of the stalk, compound; flowers 2 – 3.0 mm long; seeds lacking a caruncle	L. parviflora var. melanocarpa

3 Leaves tapering to long, slender points, margin involute; floral bracts ciliate margined; seeds unappendaged	L. confusa
3 Leaves with blunt callous tips, flat; floral bracts entire or lacerate; seeds with a well-developed appendage	4

4 Perianth < 3.5 mm long; perianth and capsule castaneus to black; inflorescence congested, spikes usually sessile or subsessile	L. multiflora ssp. frigida
4 Perianth to 4.5 mm long; perianth and capsule pale or stramineus; inflorescence commonly with a large, sessile central spike and two lateral spikes on ascending rays	L. multiflora ssp. multiflora