GL12 

 (leaf 2) 

 WOODRUSHES 



Juncoi'des spp., syn. Lu'zula spp. 



The woodrushes, with the rushes (Juncus spp.) , comprise the North 

 American representatives of the rush family (Juncaceae) whose 

 members are chiefly distinguished from the sedge family (Cy- 

 peraceae) and the grass family (Gramineae) by their regular, per- 

 fect flowers composed of six similar perianth segments, usually three 

 or six stamens, and a three- to many-seeded fruit (capsule). Al- 

 though small and dull-colored (greenish or brownish), the flowers 

 are essentially lilylike in structure. The woodrushes, although simi- 

 lar to the rushes in many respects, differ chiefly in that the leaves 

 are softer and flatter than in Juncus and not infrequently are hairy, 

 the leaf sheaths are closed, the stems are hollow and conspicuously 

 leafy, and the capsules are one-celled and one- or three-seeded. The 

 stems of true rushes (Junci) are often leafless or, when leafy, the 

 leaf sheaths are open, and the capsules are one- or three-celled and 

 contain several to many seeds. In contrast to the soft, flat, grass- 

 like leaf blades of the woodrushes, those of the rushes are usually 

 stiff and may be flat, round, or channeled. Junooides is composed 

 of approximately 65 widely distributed species, with about 12 native 

 to the western range States. The common name woodrush was ap- 

 plied to this genus because of its resemblance to the true rushes, 

 and its frequent habit of growing in wooded areas. The generic name 

 Jutiooides is of Greek origin and means "like Juncus" Under the 

 International Code of nomenclature, generic names with the -aides 

 suffix are rejected under the theory that they are of doubtful scien- 

 tific propriety. Hence, under that Code, the next oldest name, Luzula 

 is adopted for this genus. The U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 under the leadership of Dr. Frederick V. Coville, the foremost living 

 American student of Juncaceae, has accepted the American Code 

 name Juncoides for these plants. 



The other species of woodrush growing in the West are similar 

 in many ways to millet woodrush. They generally inhabit moist 

 to wet situations, either in the open or 1 shade, with the exception 

 that Piper and Donner woodrushes are largely limited to drier, 

 sandy, or gravelly soils. Although the forage value of the individual 

 species varies considerably, the palatability of the group as a whole 

 is similar to that of millet woodrush, and they are seldom grazed as 

 much as might be expected, considering their desirable and luscious- 

 looking foliage. 



Two other species, common on the western ranges, deserve mention. 

 Field woodrush (/. oam<pes'tre] , sometimes called common woodrush 

 and timber woodrush, is one of the most important, occurring, as it 

 does, in the mountains and colder regions almost throughout North 

 America, as well as in Europe and Asia, Like millet woodrush, it 

 is common, but not abundant, in moist and wet situations both in 

 open meadows and in the shade of willows and timber; it occasion- 

 ally even grows in drier habitats. The stems of field woodrush are 

 densely tufted and from 4 to 16 (occasionally 20) inches in height, 



