MEADOW WOOD RUSH 119 



pale, like Juncoides generally, but the anthers are longer than the 

 anther-stalks. 



The capsule splits open, allowing the seeds to fall around the 

 parent plant, which is dispersed by its own agency. 



The Great Wood Rush is a humus-loving plant, and confined to 

 a humus soil. 



The leaves are attacked by a cluster- cup fungus, Puccinia oblongata. 



Luzula, Smith, is from the Latin luceo, I shine, from the shining 

 leaves and fruits (it was spelt Liiciola at first); sylvatica refers to the 

 woodland habitat. 



Wood Rush is called Wood Grass, Shadow Grass, Wood Blades. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



307. Luzula sylvatica, Gaud. Rhizome woody, stem tall, leaves 

 radical, lanceolate, hairy, flowers 3, in a compound cymose panicle. 



Meadow Wood Rush (Luzula campestris, D.C.) 



Widespread and growing at high elevations, the only knowledge 

 we have so far of this common meadow plant is to be gained from its 

 present distribution in the North Temperate Zone in Europe (except 

 Greece), and all temperate and cold regions in general. It is found in 

 every part of Great Britain, except Glamorgan, Cardigan, Selkirk, as 

 far north as the Shetlands, and up to 3200 ft. in the Highlands and 

 Wales, being found also in Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



The Meadow Wood Rush is a very common component of our 

 higher pastures and meadows, growing usually at high elevations, and 

 is common to heaths and common-land, where it is very abundant. It 

 is also found in rides in woods, and in meadows which slope down from 

 the hills, and even in valleys. 



Like the tall Wood Rush on a smaller scale in habit, having the 

 grass habit, it has several simple stems, which are erect, leafy, smooth, 

 and thickened below. The leaves are hairy, linear, not so long as the 

 stems, and flat, with hairs on the margin. The tips are reddish, not 

 membranous. The bracts below the spikes are unequal. 



The brown flowers are apetalous, without a corolla, in terminal 

 cymes, in compact heads or close clusters, 3-4, dense, the spikelets 

 egg-shaped, and stalkless or stalked, the flower-stalks arising from a 

 sheath, edged with hairs. The perianth-segments exceed the capsule, 

 which is blunt, beaked, 3-sided. The anthers are light-yellow. 



The Meadow Wood Rush is about 6-8 in. high. It flowers in April 

 and May. This common plant is perennial, and propagated by seeds. 



