Luzula acuminata — hairy wood rush
![Stems and sheaths: Luzula acuminata. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2024 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Juncaceae/luzula-acuminata-acuminata-ss-mlovit-c.jpg)
![Flowers and fruits: Luzula acuminata. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2024 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Juncaceae/luzula-acuminata-acuminata-ff-mlovit-b.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Luzula acuminata. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Juncaceae/luzula-acuminata-acuminata-in-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Flowers and fruits: Luzula acuminata. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Juncaceae/luzula-acuminata-acuminata-ff-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Luzula acuminata. ~ By Marilee Lovit. ~ Copyright © 2024 Marilee Lovit. ~ lovitm[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Juncaceae/luzula-acuminata-acuminata-in-mlovit-a.jpg)
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Facts
There are two varieties of hairy wood rush in New England, one of which is common, while the other is extremely rare. This variety has a much more southerly distribution, so the lone record from Connecticut represents its northernmost occurrence.
Habitat
Forest edges, forests, woodlands
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Stem shape in cross-section
- the stem is round or oval in cross-section
- Leaf blade width
- 2–12 mm
- Leaf blade cross-section
- the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
- Inflorescence position
- the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
- Inflorescence branching
- the inflorescence is branched
- Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is a capsule, with at least three seeds in it
- Fruit length
- 2.7–4.2 mm
- Leaf position on plant
- some leaf attachment points are above the midpoint of the stem
- Perianth composition
- the perianth is green or brown, with six sepal-like parts, and a leafy texture
- Fruit cross-section
- the fruit is triangular to terete (circular) in cross-section
-
Flowers
- Anther color (dry)
- the anthers range in color from white to tan or yellow to yellow-brown
- Floral bristle color
- NA
- Floral bristle number
- NA
- Floral bristle relative length
- NA
- Floral bristles
- NA
- Floral scale hairs
- NA
- Floral scale length
- 0 mm
- Floral scale nerves
- NA
- Flower number per cluster
- 1
- Inflorescence bract angle
- the bracts are vertical or angled only slightly outwards
- Inflorescence bract number
- there are two to five bracts per inflorescence
- Inflorescence bract position (Sparganium)
- NA
- Inflorescence bracts
- there are at least two bracts, and they are either flat or folded or rolled in at the edges
- Inflorescence branching
- the inflorescence is branched
- Inflorescence crowding
- the inflorescence is at least somewhat spread out, with at least one branch coming from the main stem
- Inflorescence position
- the inflorescence is at the tip of the plant
- Inflorescence shape
- the aggregations within the inflorescence are roughly circular (not flattened) in cross-section
- Inflorescence type
- there are two or more flowers, spikes or flower clusters on a branched inflorescence
- Perianth composition
- the perianth is green or brown, with six sepal-like parts, and a leafy texture
- Stamen length
- 1.2–1.7 mm
- Stamen number
- 4-6
- Stigma number
- 3
- Style division
- the top two thirds of the style is divided
- floral bristle barbs
- NA
-
Fruits or seeds
- Achene beak length
- 0 mm
- Achene surface texture
- NA
- Achene tubercle relative width
- NA
- Achene tubercle width
- 0 mm
- Capsule relative length
- the capsule is longer thant he perianth
- Fruit cross-section
- the fruit is triangular to terete (circular) in cross-section
- Fruit length
- 2.7–4.2 mm
- Fruit type (general)
- the fruit is a capsule, with at least three seeds in it
- Fruit type (specific)
- the fruit is a capsule (splits along two or more seams, apical teeth or pores when dry, to release two or more seeds)
- Locules in capsule
- the capsule has one locule
- Seed length
- 1–1.5 mm
- Seed tail relative length
- 1–1.5 mm
- Seed tails
- the seeds have tail-like projections
- Tubercle height
- 0 mm
-
Growth form
- Lifespan
- the plant lives more than two years
- Rhizome thickness
- 1–2 mm
- Underground organs
- the plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)
-
Leaves
- Auricle length
- 0 mm
- Auricle texture
- NA
- Auricles
- there are no auricles on the leaf sheath
- Leaf blade cross-section
- the leaf blade is flat or rolled in at the edges
- Leaf blade length
- 2–32 mm
- Leaf blade width
- 2–12 mm
- Leaf form
- all the leaves hold their form out of water
- Leaf position on plant
- some leaf attachment points are above the midpoint of the stem
- Leaf septa
- the leaf blades do not have transverse septa
- Leaf sheath hairs
- the leaf sheathes have hairs on them
- Pedicel length (Typha)
- 0 mm
- Stem leaf blade ligules
- there are no ligules at the leaf blade bases
- Stem leaf blades
- there are fully-developed leaves with leaf blades on the main stem
- Width of seed-producing inflorescence
- 30–60 mm
-
Place
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- edges of forests
- forests
- woodlands
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Plant height
- 10–40 cm
- Stem shape in cross-section
- the stem is round or oval in cross-section
- Stem thickness at midpoint
- 3–5 mm
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
var. acuminata
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Subspecies and varieties
Luzula acuminata Raf. var. acuminata is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. L. acuminata var. carolinae (S. Wats.) Fern. is known from CT and is of regional conservation concern.
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
1. Luzula acuminata Raf. NC
hairy wood rush. 1a. Luzula carolinae S. Wats.; 1b. Juncoides saltuense (Fern.) Heller; Luzula carolinae S. Wats. var. saltuensis (Fern.) Fern. • CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. Deciduous or mixed evergreen-deciduous forests and woodlands, forest edges.
1a. Most or all of the primary branches of the inflorescence branched 1 or more times and bearing 2–4 flowers … 1a. L. acuminata var. carolinae (S. Wats.) Fern.
1b. Most or all of the primary branches of the inflorescence simple and bearing a single flower … 1b. L. acuminata var. acuminata
Variety carolinae is known from only CT and is of regional conservation concern. The record is based on an herbarium specimen examined by Janice Swab (personal communication). Unfortunately, the location of that specimen is now unknown. Variety acuminata is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT and is demonstrably secure in New England.