# Luzula

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Luzula.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzula
> Source revision: 1325001400
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{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants in the rush family Juncaceae}}
{{Redirect|Woodrush|the buoy tender|USCGC Woodrush (WLB-407){{!}}USCGC ''Woodrush'' (WLB-407)}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Luzula sylvatica0.jpg
|image_caption = ''[Luzula sylvatica](/source/Luzula_sylvatica)'', great wood-rush
|taxon = Luzula
|authority = [DC.](/source/A._P._de_Candolle), [conserved name](/source/conserved_name)
|synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>{{cite web |title=''Luzula'' DC. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331233-2 |website=[Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online) |publisher=[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew](/source/Royal_Botanic_Gardens%2C_Kew) |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref>
|synonyms = 
*''Cyperella'' <small>J.G.H.Kramer ex MacMill.</small>
*''Ebingeria'' <small>Chrtek & Krísa</small>
*''Gymnodes'' <small>(Griseb.) Fourr.</small>
*''Juncoides'' <small>Ség., rejected name</small>
*''Luciola'' <small>Sm., [superfluous name](/source/superfluous_name)</small>
*''Nemorinia'' <small>Fourr.</small>
*''Pterodes'' <small>(Griseb.) Börner</small>
}}

'''''Luzula''''' is a genus of [flowering plant](/source/flowering_plant)s in the rush family [Juncaceae](/source/Juncaceae). The genus has a [cosmopolitan distribution](/source/cosmopolitan_distribution), with species occurring throughout the world, especially in [temperate](/source/temperate_climate) regions, the [Arctic](/source/Arctic), and higher elevation areas in the [tropics](/source/tropics).<ref name=fna>{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=119122 |author=Janice Coffey Swab |chapter=''Luzula'' de Candolle in J. Lamarck and A. P. de Candolle, Fl. France, ed. 3. 1: 198; 3: 158. 1805 |title= Flora of North America |volume=22}}</ref> Plants of the genus are known commonly as '''wood-rush''',<ref>[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?7042 ''Luzula''.] Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).</ref> '''wood rush''', or '''woodrush'''.<ref name=itis>[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=39330 ''Luzula''.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref> Possible origins of the genus name include the [Italian](/source/Italian_language) ''lucciola'' ("to shine, sparkle") or the [Latin](/source/Latin) ''luzulae'' or ''luxulae'', from ''lux'' ("light"), inspired by the way the plants sparkle when wet with [dew](/source/dew).<ref name=fna/> Another etymology sometimes given is that it does derive from ''lucciola'' but that this meant a mid-summer field, or from the [Latin](/source/Latin) [''luculus''](/source/%3Awikt%3Aluculus), meaning a small place; the same source also states that this name was applied by [Luigi Anguillara](/source/Luigi_Anguillara) (an Italian [botanist](/source/botanist)) in 1561.<ref name="svalbard">{{cite web|url=http://svalbardflora.net/index.php?id=829 |title=Scientific names - meaning and origin |work=The Flora of Svalbard |publisher=svalbardflora.net |access-date=23 December 2013 |location=[Svalbard](/source/Svalbard) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114900/http://svalbardflora.net/index.php?id=829 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

These rushes are usually [perennial plant](/source/perennial_plant)s with [rhizome](/source/rhizome)s and sometimes [stolon](/source/stolon)s. They generally form clumps of cylindrical stems and narrow leaves with hair-lined edges. The [inflorescence](/source/inflorescence) is often a dense cluster of flowers with two leaf-like [bract](/source/bract)s at the base, or sometimes a solitary flower or a few flowers borne together. They have six brownish [tepal](/source/tepal)s.<ref name=fna/><ref name=jeps>[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=9149 ''Luzula''.] The Jepson eFlora 2013.</ref>

''Luzula'' species are used as food plants by the [larva](/source/larva)e of some [Lepidoptera](/source/Lepidoptera) species, including the [smoky wainscot](/source/smoky_wainscot). Several moths of the genus ''[Coleophora](/source/Coleophora)'' have been observed on the plants. ''[Coleophora biforis](/source/Coleophora_biforis)'' and ''[C. otidipennella](/source/Coleophora_otidipennella)'' feed exclusively on ''Luzula''. ''[C. antennariella](/source/Coleophora_antennariella)'' is limited to ''Luzula pilosa'', and ''[C. sylvaticella](/source/Coleophora_sylvaticella)'' feeds only on ''L. sylvatica''.

Some species, notably ''[Luzula sylvatica](/source/Luzula_sylvatica)'' and its cultivars, are used as ornamental garden plants.

==Species==
125 species are accepted.<ref name = powo/>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}} 
*''[Luzula abchasica](/source/Luzula_abchasica)'' <small>Novikov</small>
*''[Luzula abyssinica](/source/Luzula_abyssinica)'' <small>Parl.</small>
*''[Luzula acuminata](/source/Luzula_acuminata)'' <small>Raf.</small>
*''[Luzula acutifolia](/source/Luzula_acutifolia)'' <small>H. Nordensk.</small>
*''[Luzula africana](/source/Luzula_africana)'' <small>Drège ''ex'' Steud.</small>
*''[Luzula alopecurus](/source/Luzula_alopecurus)'' <small>Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula alpestris](/source/Luzula_alpestris)'' <small>H. Nordensk.</small>
*''[Luzula alpina](/source/Luzula_alpina)'' <small>Hoppe</small>
*''[Luzula alpinopilosa](/source/Luzula_alpinopilosa)'' <small>(Chaix) Breistr.</small>
*''[Luzula antarctica](/source/Luzula_antarctica)'' <small>Hook. f.</small>
*''[Luzula arcuata](/source/Luzula_arcuata)'' <small>(Wahlenb.) Sw.</small>
*''[Luzula atlantica](/source/Luzula_atlantica)'' <small>Braun-Blanq.</small>
*''[Luzula atrata](/source/Luzula_atrata)'' <small>Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula australasica](/source/Luzula_australasica)'' <small>Steud.</small>
*''[Luzula banksiana](/source/Luzula_banksiana)'' <small>E. Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula × bogdanii](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_bogdanii)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula bomiensis](/source/Luzula_bomiensis)'' <small>K. F. Wu</small>
*''[Luzula × bornmuelleriana](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_bornmuelleriana)'' <small>Kük.</small>
*''[Luzula × borreri](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_borreri)'' <small>Bromf. ''ex'' Bab.</small>
*''[Luzula brachyphylla](/source/Luzula_brachyphylla)'' <small>Phil.</small>
*''[Luzula brevispicata](/source/Luzula_brevispicata)'' {{small|Knjaz.}}
*''[Luzula bulbosa](/source/Luzula_bulbosa)'' <small>(Alph. Wood) Smyth & L.C.R.Smyth</small>
*''[Luzula caespitosa](/source/Luzula_caespitosa)'' <small>(E. Mey.) Steud.</small>
*''[Luzula calabra](/source/Luzula_calabra)'' <small>Ten.</small>
*''[Luzula campestris](/source/Luzula_campestris)'' <small>(L.) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula canariensis](/source/Luzula_canariensis)'' <small>Poir.</small>
*''[Luzula capitata](/source/Luzula_capitata)'' <small>(Miq. ''ex'' Franch. & Sav.) Kom.</small>
*''[Luzula caricina](/source/Luzula_caricina)'' <small>E.Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula celata](/source/Luzula_celata)'' <small>Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula chilensis](/source/Luzula_chilensis)'' <small>Nees & Meyen ''ex'' Kunth</small>
*''[Luzula colensoi](/source/Luzula_colensoi)'' <small>Hook.f.</small>
*''[Luzula comosa](/source/Luzula_comosa)'' <small>E. Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula confusa](/source/Luzula_confusa)'' <small>Lindeb.</small>
*''[Luzula congesta](/source/Luzula_congesta)'' <small>(Thuill.) Lej.</small>
*''[Luzula crenulata](/source/Luzula_crenulata)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula crinita](/source/Luzula_crinita)'' <small>Hook. f.</small>
*''[Luzula × danica](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_danica)'' <small>H. Nordensk. & Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula decipiens](/source/Luzula_decipiens)'' <small>Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula densiflora](/source/Luzula_densiflora)'' <small>(H.Nordensk.) Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula denticulata](/source/Luzula_denticulata)'' <small>Liebm.</small>
*''[Luzula desvauxii](/source/Luzula_desvauxii)'' <small>Kunth</small>
*''[Luzula divaricata](/source/Luzula_divaricata)'' <small>S.Watson</small>
*''[Luzula divulgata](/source/Luzula_divulgata)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula divulgatiformis](/source/Luzula_divulgatiformis)'' <small>Bačič & Jogan</small>
*''[Luzula echinata](/source/Luzula_echinata)'' <small>(Small) F.J.Herm.</small>
*''[Luzula ecuadoriensis](/source/Luzula_ecuadoriensis)'' <small>Balslev</small>
*''[Luzula effusa](/source/Luzula_effusa)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula elegans](/source/Luzula_elegans)'' <small>Lowe</small>
*''[Luzula excelsa](/source/Luzula_excelsa)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula exspectata](/source/Luzula_exspectata)'' <small>Bačič & Jogan</small>
*''[Luzula fallax](/source/Luzula_fallax)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula × favratii](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_favratii)'' <small>K.Richt.</small>
*''[Luzula flaccida](/source/Luzula_flaccida)'' <small>(Buchenau) Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula formosana](/source/Luzula_formosana)'' <small>Ohwi</small>
*''[Luzula forsteri](/source/Luzula_forsteri)'' <small>(Sm.) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula × gayana](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_gayana)'' <small>Font Quer & Rothm.</small>
*''[Luzula gigantea](/source/Luzula_gigantea)'' <small>Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula glabrata](/source/Luzula_glabrata)'' <small>(Hoppe) Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula groenlandica](/source/Luzula_groenlandica)'' <small>Böcher</small>
*''[Luzula × hasleri](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_hasleri)'' <small>Murr</small>
*''[Luzula hawaiiensis](/source/Luzula_hawaiiensis)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula × heddae](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_heddae)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula × hermannii-muelleri](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_hermannii-muelleri)'' <small>Asch. & Graebn.</small>
*''[Luzula hitchcockii](/source/Luzula_hitchcockii)'' <small>[Hämet-Ahti](/source/Leena_H%C3%A4met-Ahti)</small>
*''[Luzula × hybrida](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_hybrida)'' <small>H. Lindb. ''ex'' Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula ignivoma](/source/Luzula_ignivoma)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula inaequalis](/source/Luzula_inaequalis)'' <small>K.F.Wu</small>
*''[Luzula indica](/source/Luzula_indica)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula jimboi](/source/Luzula_jimboi)'' <small>Miyabe & Kudo</small>
*''[Luzula × johannis-principis](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_johannis-principis)'' <small>Murr</small>
*''[Luzula johnstonii](/source/Luzula_johnstonii)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula kjellmaniana](/source/Luzula_kjellmaniana)'' <small>Miyabe & Kudo</small>
*''[Luzula kobayasii](/source/Luzula_kobayasii)'' <small>Satake</small>
*''[Luzula lactea](/source/Luzula_lactea)'' <small>(Link) E.Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula leiboldii](/source/Luzula_leiboldii)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula leptophylla](/source/Luzula_leptophylla)'' <small>Buchenau & Petrie</small>
*''[Luzula × levieri](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_levieri)'' <small>Asch. & Graebn.</small>
*''[Luzula longiflora](/source/Luzula_longiflora)'' <small>Benth.</small>
*''[Luzula lutea](/source/Luzula_lutea)'' <small>(All.) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula lutescens](/source/Luzula_lutescens)'' <small>(Koidz.) Kirschner & Miyam.</small>
*''[Luzula luzulina](/source/Luzula_luzulina)'' <small>(Vill.) Racib.</small>
*''[Luzula luzuloides](/source/Luzula_luzuloides)'' <small>(Lam.) Dandy & Wilmott</small>
*''[Luzula mannii](/source/Luzula_mannii)'' <small>(Buchenau) Kirschner & Cheek</small>
*''[Luzula masafuerana](/source/Luzula_masafuerana)'' <small>Skottsb.</small>
*''[Luzula mauretanica](/source/Luzula_mauretanica)'' {{small|(Maire & Trab.) Rivas Mart., Molero Mesa, Marfíl & G.Benítez}}
*''[Luzula × media](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_media)'' <small>Kirschner</small>
*''[Luzula mendocina](/source/Luzula_mendocina)'' <small>Barros</small>
*''[Luzula meridionalis](/source/Luzula_meridionalis)'' <small>H. Nordensk.</small>
*''[Luzula modesta](/source/Luzula_modesta)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula multiflora](/source/Luzula_multiflora)'' <small>(Ehrh.) Lej.</small>
*''[Luzula muscosa](/source/Luzula_muscosa)'' {{small|Charit.}}
*''[Luzula nipponica](/source/Luzula_nipponica)'' <small>(Satake) Kirschner & Miyam.</small>
*''[Luzula nivalis](/source/Luzula_nivalis)'' <small>(Laest.) Spreng.</small>
*''[Luzula nivea](/source/Luzula_nivea)'' <small>(Nathh.) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula nodulosa](/source/Luzula_nodulosa)'' <small>E. Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula novae-cambriae](/source/Luzula_novae-cambriae)'' <small>Gand.</small>
*''[Luzula odaesanensis](/source/Luzula_odaesanensis)'' {{small|Y.N.Lee & Chae ex M.Kim}}
*''[Luzula oligantha](/source/Luzula_oligantha)'' <small>Sam.</small>
*''[Luzula orestera](/source/Luzula_orestera)'' <small>Sharsm.</small>
*''[Luzula ostenii](/source/Luzula_ostenii)'' <small>(Mattf.) Herter</small>
*''[Luzula ovata](/source/Luzula_ovata)'' <small>Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula pallescens](/source/Luzula_pallescens)'' <small>Sw.</small>
*''[Luzula papuana](/source/Luzula_papuana)'' <small>M. E. Jansen</small>
*''[Luzula parviflora](/source/Luzula_parviflora)'' <small>(Ehrh.) Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula pedemontana](/source/Luzula_pedemontana)'' <small>Boiss. & Reut.</small>
*''[Luzula pediformis](/source/Luzula_pediformis)'' <small>(Chaix) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula peruviana](/source/Luzula_peruviana)'' <small>Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula × pfaffii](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_pfaffii)'' <small>Murr</small>
*''[Luzula philippinensis](/source/Luzula_philippinensis)'' <small>M. E. Jansen</small>
*''[Luzula picta](/source/Luzula_picta)'' <small>A. Rich.</small>
*''[Luzula pilosa](/source/Luzula_pilosa)'' <small>(L.) Willd.</small>
*''[Luzula pindica](/source/Luzula_pindica)'' <small>(Hausskn.) Chrtek & Krísa</small>
*''[Luzula piperi](/source/Luzula_piperi)'' <small>(Coville) M. E. Jones</small>
*''[Luzula plumosa](/source/Luzula_plumosa)'' <small>E. Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula poimena](/source/Luzula_poimena)'' <small>W. M. Curtis</small>
*''[Luzula pumila](/source/Luzula_pumila)'' <small>Hook. f.</small>
*''[Luzula purpureosplendens](/source/Luzula_purpureosplendens)'' <small>Seub.</small>
*''[Luzula racemosa](/source/Luzula_racemosa)'' <small>Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula × romanica](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_romanica)'' <small>J. Dvorák & Vorel</small>
*''[Luzula rufa](/source/Luzula_rufa)'' <small>Edgar</small>
*''[Luzula rufescens](/source/Luzula_rufescens)'' <small>Fisch. ''ex'' E. Mey.</small>
*''[Luzula ruiz-lealii](/source/Luzula_ruiz-lealii)'' <small>Barros</small>
*''[Luzula seubertii](/source/Luzula_seubertii)'' <small>Lowe</small>
*''[Luzula × sichuanensis](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_sichuanensis)'' <small>K. F. Wu</small>
*''[Luzula × somedana](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_somedana)'' <small>Fern-Carv. & Fern. Prieto</small>
*''[Luzula spicata](/source/Luzula_spicata)'' <small>(L.) DC.</small>
*''[Luzula stenophylla](/source/Luzula_stenophylla)'' <small>Steud.</small>
*''[Luzula subcapitata](/source/Luzula_subcapitata)'' <small>(Rydb.) H. D. Harr.</small>
*''[Luzula subcongesta](/source/Luzula_subcongesta)'' <small>(S. Watson) Jeps.</small>
*''[Luzula subsessilis](/source/Luzula_subsessilis)'' <small>(S. Watson) Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula sudetica](/source/Luzula_sudetica)'' <small>(Willd.) Schult.</small>
*''[Luzula sylvatica](/source/Luzula_sylvatica)'' <small>(Huds.) Gaudin</small>
*''[Luzula taiwaniana](/source/Luzula_taiwaniana)'' <small>Satake</small>
*''[Luzula taurica](/source/Luzula_taurica)'' <small>(V. I. Krecz.) Novikov</small>
*''[Luzula traversii](/source/Luzula_traversii)'' <small>(Buchenau) Cheeseman</small>
*''[Luzula tristachya](/source/Luzula_tristachya)'' <small>Desv.</small>
*''[Luzula ulei](/source/Luzula_ulei)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula ulophylla](/source/Luzula_ulophylla)'' <small>(Buchenau) Cockayne & Laing</small>
*''[Luzula × vinesii](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_vinesii)'' <small>Murr</small>
*''[Luzula vulcanica](/source/Luzula_vulcanica)'' <small>Liebm.</small>
*''[Luzula wahlenbergii](/source/Luzula_wahlenbergii)'' <small>Rupr.</small>
*''[Luzula × wettsteinii](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_wettsteinii)'' <small>Buchenau</small>
*''[Luzula × winderiae](/source/Luzula_%C3%97_winderiae)'' {{small|Murr}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Luzula|short=x}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q157588}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Luzula
Category:Poales genera
Category:Taxa named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Luzula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzula) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzula?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.