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Luzula multiflora ssp. multiflora (Ehrh.) Lej.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Juncaceae
Genus: Luzula
 
Species Synonyms: Juncus multiflorus (Ehrh.) Hoffmann, non Retz.
Luzula multiflora ssp. multiflora var. multiflora (Ehrh.) Lej.
Juncus campestris var. multiflorus Ehrh.
Luzula campestris var. multiflora (Ehrh.) Celak.
Common Names: many-flowered woodrush
common woodrush
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: Yukon Territory – Mackenzie District – Keewatin District – Ungava, south to northern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southeastern and central Saskatchewan – southern Manitoba – Ontario – Nova Scotia – Newfoundland
Saskatchewan: wide distribution; Lake Athabasca – Nipawin Provincial Park, Cypress Hills
Ecoregion: Cypress Upland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, Athabasca Plain, Selwyn Lake Upland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: fields, meadows, and open woods
Associated species Carex aquatilis, Carex backii, Carex foenea var. foenea, Carex rostrata, Mertensia paniculata, Picea mariana
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Vulnerable
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5T5 S2
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Luzula multiflora ssp. multiflora is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is rare or uncommon in the province and most local populations are small.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 10 – 40 cm tall
Roots: rhizomes
Culms: densely to loosely caespitose, somewhat bulbous at base
Leaves: basal leaves 3.5 – 12 cm long, 2 – 6 mm wide, flat; cauline leaves 2 – 3, not overlapping, equalling or exceeding inflorescence, sparsely hairy
Inflorescence: subumbellate, with one large and two smaller spikes on ascending branches; lowermost bract of inflorescence leaf-like
Flowers: tepals 2.5 – 4.5 mm long, outer and inner tepals approximately equal or outer whorl slightly longer than the inner, pale brown or stramineus, margins clear; anthers not more than twice the length of the filament
Fruits: capsules about equal to tepals, globose, pale brown to black; seeds 1 – 1.4 mm long, with a long caruncle
 
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