1. Luzula campestris (L.) DC. (wood rush)
Pl.
96 g, h; Map 381
Plants usually with short rhizomes, the aboveground growth loosely or densely
caespitose. Aerial stems 1–5 per plant, 10–50 cm long, erect. Basal leaves few
to numerous, 5–25 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear to linear-lanceolate, flat, the
tips pointed, thickened, the margins with few to numerous clumps of long,
loosely spreading hairs. Leaves of aerial stems 1–3 per stem, similar to the
basal leaves, but with short, closed sheaths at the base, 3–10 cm long, grading
into the bracts of the inflorescence. Inflorescences racemes or rarely panicles
of dense, headlike or spikelike clusters of flowers, the clusters nearly
sessile or with stalks of varying lengths, the stalks ascending or spreading to
deflexed. Flowers each subtended by 2 small, triangular bracts 1–2 mm long,
these unevenly toothed along the margins. Sepals and petals 2–4 mm long,
lanceolate, erect or with the tips somewhat spreading, straw-colored to dark
brown or purplish brown. Stamens 6. Fruits 1.8–2.3 mm long, shorter than the
perianth, obovoid to ellipsoid, the tip broadly rounded, straw-colored to dark
brown. Seeds 3 per fruit, 1.0–2.5 mm long, ellipsoid to ovoid, dark brown, with
a lighter-colored, straight or curved, caplike caruncle. April–June.
Scattered in the Ozark and Ozark Border Divisions, and locally in counties just
north of the Missouri River (U.S., Canada, Greenland, Europe, Asia). Dry upland
forests, most commonly on chert, sandstone, or granite; also in mesic upland
forests in ravines, less commonly on sandstone or igneous glades or dry, rocky,
upland prairies.
Steyermark (1963) recognized only a single taxon, the diploid L. bulbosa,
as occurring in Missouri. However, Gleason and Cronquist (1991) cited the
widespread tetraploid, L. multiflora, as growing in the state. Coffey
(1966) included another diploid, L. echinata, for Missouri; an
examination of herbarium collections has confirmed this report.
Luzula campestris consists of a taxonomically difficult aggregate of
several widespread diploid and polyploid taxa. These have been studied
extensively cytogenetically and through experimental hybridizations
(Nordenskiöld, 1951, 1956) and are often considered separate species.
Morphologically, however, although relatively discrete characters exist to
differentiate the diploids, the widespread polyploids variously combine these
characters in different populations, making determinations difficult in some
cases. Further research is needed to assess the distinctions among the
segregates, and until such studies shed further light on the matter, it seems
most prudent to follow Clemants (1990) and other authors who maintain these
taxa as varieties.