Grasses List |
Rushes Family [Juncaceae] |
category
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
(3+3)stem
10th April 2015, Mill Gill, Askrigg, Yorks Dales. | Photo: © RWD |
Young plants, robust but not yet tall. |
10th April 2015, Mill Gill, Askrigg, Yorks Dales. | Photo: © RWD |
Wider at the ground than any other Wood-rush. |
10th April 2015, Mill Gill, Askrigg, Yorks Dales. | Photo: © RWD |
Numerous florets, but none open as yet. |
10th April 2015, Mill Gill, Askrigg, Yorks Dales. | Photo: © RWD |
Has brownish sheaths/bracts at flower stem junctions. |
20th May 2013, Rocher Wood, High Bradfield, Outskirts of Sheffield. | Photo: © RWD |
The UK's largest Wood-rush by a long chalk, up to 80cm high. |
20th May 2013, Rocher Wood, High Bradfield, Outskirts of Sheffield. | Photo: © RWD |
Forms spreading densely-tufted clumps of plants. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
A clump in the process of formation. Flat, glossy linear, tapering leaves up to 20mm wide and 10-30cm long. A single flowering stalk rises well above the height of the leaves. Near the top fifth the stalk forks multiple times forming an well-branched open cluster of flowers. |
16th May 2013, Tockholes Plantation, Darwin, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Multiply-forked branched-clusters of flowers in open panicles. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
These specimens are not as branched as the others. Both open and lax clusters of flowers can be found on differing plants. |
16th May 2013, Tockholes Plantation, Darwin, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Just a single cluster shown here. The flowers have 3 brown sepals and 3 similarly-shaped brown petals (tepals) of flowers with six long cream-coloured anthers protruding. |
10th May 2013, Walls Plantation, Ravenglass, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Each flower also has a single style which branches near the top into three stigmas above the anthers. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
As-yet unopened flowers which are in groups of mainly 2, but up to 3-5. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
It seems that most Wood-rushes have long white hairs on some of the stems. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Un-opened flowers. |
10th May 2013, Walls Plantation, Ravenglass, Cumbria. | Photo: © RWD |
Opened flowers. |
20th May 2013, Rocher Wood, High Bradfield, Outskirts of Sheffield. | Photo: © RWD |
Six brown 'petals' six pollen-covered anthers, a long thin style coming from the still-green ovary and splitting into three stigmas. |
2nd April 2014, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Adlington, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Lower down the main stem. Sporadic long white hairs protruding. |
Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : The tallest by far with the most-branched inflorescence of all UK Wood-rushes.
Can be mistaken for
Many species of Wood-rush are distinguished mainly by the shape, size and details of their fruits. They are in the same Juncaceae family as the Rushes (Juncus) It grows in woods by shaded, or densely shaded, streams or even in open ground on rocky ledges or peaty or heather moorland. Its occurrence is almost ubiquitous throughout much of the UK but seemingly preferring to avoid large tracts of Norfolk, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and several central England areas. Where it does occur, it is usually locally common, occurring in large rafts. It spreads by underground rhizomes. Growing mainly on acidic soils it can also tolerate neutral or slightly alkaline soils. It can be planted in damp shady gardens as ground-cover where other plants may struggle.
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Luzula | sylvatica | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Juncaceae |
Luzula (Wood-Rushes) |
Rushes Family [Juncaceae] |