1963] 



TAXONOMY OF LUZULA SUBGENUS PTERODES 



303 



23, 1899) (US). CHINA: Shansi: A. Lerre 523 (S). Szechwan: H. Smith 2093 (S). KOREA: 

 V. Komarov 355 (K). MANCHURIA : K. Yamatsuta (June 29, 1931) (TNS). MONGOLIA: 

 N. Pavlov 74 (S). RUSSIA: Amur: TV. DociurowsTcy 1215 (S) ; F. Karo 361 (K) ; Maximo- 

 wicz (May 17, 1855) (LE). Irkutsk: H. Xilsson-Ehle (June 4, 1898). Krasnoyarsk: H. TV. 

 Arnell (July 18, 1876) (S) ; M. Brenner (July 7, 1876) (S). 



Hybrids. Xo naturally occurring hybrids have been reported. Moreover, in 

 the material examined no intermediate plants were found between this species 

 and Luzida rostrata var. jimboi in northeastern Siberia. The similarity of these 

 two species, however, indicates that hybrids would probably occur if the two 

 species come into contact. Also, it is very probable that L. rufescens lrybridizes 

 with L. plumosa in southeastern Siberia. Unfortunately there is very little her- 

 barium material from this region, so no conclusive results could be obtained. 



Luzula rufescens is easily distinguished from the other members of the sub- 

 genus by the smaller flowers, narrower leaves, and usually simple corymbose in- 

 florescence with erect to spreading pedicels. However, occasionally it has been 

 confused with L. plumosa var. brevipes and L. rostrata. The relationship of this 

 species to others of the subgenus is still undetermined because, in the experi- 

 ments of Xordenskiold (1957) the Fi hybrids were usually sterile. However, the 

 small flowers, stoloniferous habit and slightly curved caruncle indicate a rela- 

 tionship to L. rostrata. 



The nomenclature of this species is very simple. One variety (macrocarpa) 

 has been described, but present information indicates that this is just natural 

 variation within the species. This varietal name has also been raised to specific 

 rank [L. macrocarpa (Buchenau) Xakai], and moreover has been considered a 

 variety of another species (L. plumosa var. macrocarpa) . This latter transfer 

 was used for the Japanese species of L. plumosa. The type specimen of this 

 name was examined, and in the author's opinion it is referable to L. rufescens 

 rather than L. plumosa. 



This species is found on two continents. In Asia it occurs from the tundra 

 region of eastern Siberia, south into the mountains of Mongolia and northern 

 China, while in North America it is found in Alaska and the western part of 

 the Yukon District of Canada (Fig. 9). Throughout this range it is polymorphic. 

 Most of the specimens from northeastern Siberia are less than 20 cm tall and 

 the mature capsule equals to slightly exceeds the perianth, while the southern 

 specimens are usually taller (to 30 cm) and the capsule exceeds the perianth. 

 These taller plants have generally been referred to as variety macrocarpa. In 

 contrast, the plants from Xorth America range in size from 20-30 cm tall, the 

 mature capsule exceeds the perianth and is flecked with purple. Varieties could 

 not be distinguished, however, because of the high variability of the traits men- 

 tioned above. 



Literature Cited 



Anderson, E. 1949. Introgressive hybridization, i-ix. 1-109. New York, John Wiley & Son. 

 Babington, C. C. 1851. Manual of British botany, containing the flowering plants and ferns 



arranged according to the natural orders, ed. 3. i-xxxii. 1-434. London, John Van Voorst. 

 Briigger, C. G. 1880. Wikhvachsende pflanzenbastarde in der Schweiz und deren nachbarschaft. 



Jahresb. Naturf. Ges. Graubundens NF. 23/24: 47-123. 

 Buchenau, F. 1890. Monographia Juncacearum. Bot. Jahrb. 12: 1-495. 

 . 1906. Juncaceae, in Das Pflanzenreich 25(4) : 1-284. 



Desvaux, N. A. 1808. Memoire sur une monographie du genre Luzula. Jour. Bot. Desvaux 1: 

 129-165. 



Domin, K. 1935. Plantarum Cechoslovakiae Enumeratio species vaseulares indigenas et intro- 

 ductas exhibens. Preslia 13/15: (Luzula pp. 23-24). 



