Luzula - Wood-rush

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• Family: Juncaceae (Rush) ^(Jepson)
• Other Names: Woodrush, Hairy Rush. ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}

Synonyms

• Juncodes Adans. ^(GBIF)

General: A genus of perennial, grass-like flowering plants, distinguished from true rushes (Juncus) by their flat, grass-like leaves which always have long, soft, conspicuous hairs, especially along the margins and at the junction of the sheath and blade. ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}
Lifecycle: Perennial, either forming dense tufts (caespitose) or spreading via rhizomes. ^(Jepson)
Flowers: Small, inconspicuous flowers with 6 brownish-to-greenish tepals, arranged in terminal clusters, panicles, or spike-like inflorescences. Blooms in spring to summer. ^{(Flora of North America)}
Fruits: A small, dry capsule containing three seeds. The seeds often have a fleshy appendage called an elaiosome to encourage dispersal by ants. ^(Jepson)
Leaves: Basal and cauline (on the stem), resembling grass leaves. They are always flat (never round or wiry) with a closed sheath and are characteristically hairy. ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}
Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, meadows, bogs, and alpine or arctic tundra. Many species prefer moist, acidic soils. ^{(Flora of North America)}
Range: Cosmopolitan, with species found worldwide, particularly in temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres. Several species, such as Luzula multiflora and Luzula parviflora, are common on Vancouver Island. ^(E-flora)
Status: Most species are native within their ranges. Some, like Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris), can be common weeds in lawns and pastures. ^(Wiki)
Ecological Indicator: The presence of certain Luzula species can indicate poor, acidic, or compacted soil conditions. They are an important component of many native ecosystems. ^{(Flora of North America)}
Possible Lookalikes: The key distinguishing feature is the presence of long hairs on the leaf blades. They can be confused with:

• True Rushes (Juncus): Have hairless leaves, which are often cylindrical and hollow/pith-filled, not flat. ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}
• Sedges (Carex and other Cyperaceae): Typically have triangular stems ("sedges have edges") and hairless leaves. ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}
• Grasses (Poaceae): Have round, hollow stems with prominent nodes (joints) and hairless leaves (though the ligule/sheath area may be hairy). ^{(Pojar & MacKinnon)}

Hazards

• No parts of plants in the Luzula genus are known to be poisonous to humans. While not considered a primary food source, they are generally regarded as safe. ^(PFAF)
• As with any wild plant, correct identification is crucial to avoid accidentally consuming a misidentified toxic plant.

Food Uses

• Generally not used for food. There are no well-documented accounts of any species being a significant food source. Some historical reports suggest the seeds could be gathered and eaten in times of famine, but this was not common practice. ^(PFAF)

Other Uses

• Ornamental: Several species, such as Greater Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica) and Snowy Wood-rush (Luzula nivea), are cultivated as ornamental groundcovers for shady, damp areas in gardens. ^(RHS)
• Dried Arrangements: The dried flower heads can be used in floral arrangements. ^(PFAF)

Medicinal Uses

• Traditional Use: Historically, some species had limited use in European folk medicine. Field Wood-rush (Luzula campestris) was used as a diuretic and to help expel kidney stones ("gravel"). ^(Grieve)
• A decoction of the plant was also used to treat hemorrhages and excessive menstrual flow. ^(Grieve)
• There is little to no modern scientific research into the medicinal properties of Luzula, and its use has been almost entirely abandoned.

Phytochemistry & Allelopathy

Plants in the genus Luzula are known to produce a class of phenolic compounds called phenanthrenes, which are relatively rare in flowering plants. Some of these compounds, such as juncusol, have been studied for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. ^(NatProds)

Allelopathy: There is currently little scientific evidence to suggest that Luzula species have significant allelopathic properties that inhibit the growth of surrounding plants. Their ability to form dense stands is more likely due to their tolerance of shade and poor soils.

Management and Control

Ornamental species are cultivated for their tolerance of shade and moist, acidic soils. They are generally low-maintenance.

• Planting: Best planted in fall or spring in a location that does not receive harsh, direct sun. ^(RHS)
• Maintenance: Clumps can be cut back in late winter to encourage fresh spring growth. They require minimal fertilization and are generally pest-free. ^(RHS)
• Control: In lawns, Field Wood-rush (L. campestris) can be a persistent weed. Improving soil drainage, reducing compaction through aeration, and adjusting soil pH (liming) can discourage its growth. ^(RHS)

Propagation

Propagation is easily achieved either by seed or by division.

Clump-forming species can be divided in the spring. Spreading species can be propagated from rhizome cuttings. Seeds can be sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn. ^(RHS)

Lore & History

The name Luzula is thought to derive from the Italian word *lucciola* ("to sparkle, glitter") or the Latin *lux* ("light"), which may refer to the way dewdrops glitter on the fine hairs of the leaves in the morning sun. ^{(Flora of North America)}

LUZULA WOOD-RUSH

Family: Juncaceae - Rush

Luzula is a genus of over 100 species in the rush family, Juncaceae. Unlike the closely related genus Juncus, members of Luzula have flat, hairy leaves. They are grass-like perennials with a cosmopolitan distribution, found in diverse habitats from temperate woodlands to alpine zones. While not economically important, they are a key component of many native ecosystems and some species are used as ornamental plants. ^{(Jepson) (Wiki)}

Local Species

1. Luzula arcuata ssp. unalaschcensis - curved wood-rush ^[E-flora]
2. Luzula campestris - field wood-rush ^[E-flora]
3. Luzula comosa - Pacific wood-rush ^[E-flora]
4. Luzula comosa var. comosa - Pacific wood-rush ^[E-flora]
5. Luzula fastigiata - forked wood-rush ^[E-flora]
6. Luzula multiflora - many-flowered wood-rush ^[E-flora]
7. Luzula multiflora ssp. frigida - many-flowered wood-rush ^[E-flora]
8. Luzula multiflora ssp. multiflora - many-flowered wood-rush ^[E-flora]
9. Luzula parviflora - small-flowered wood-rush ^[E-flora]
10. Luzula piperi - Piper's wood-rush ^[E-flora]
11. Luzula spicata - spiked wood-rush ^[E-flora]

References

• (E-flora) - Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
• (Flora of North America) - Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford.
• (GBIF) - Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Luzula DC.
• (Grieve) - Grieve, M. (1931). A Modern Herbal. Penguin.
• (Jepson) - Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2025. Jepson eFlora.
• (NatProds) - Tzakou, O., et al. (2005). Phenanthrenes from Luzula sylvatica. Journal of Natural Products.
• (PFAF) - Plants For A Future Database. Luzula campestris.
• (Pojar & MacKinnon) - Pojar, J., & MacKinnon, A. (2004). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing.
• (RHS) - Royal Horticultural Society. Luzula (wood rush) profile.
• (Wiki) - Wikipedia contributors. "Luzula." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Image References

1. Luzula campestris, Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
2. Luzula multiflora, Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
3. Image reference 3