| Luzula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Luzula sylvatica, great wood-rush | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Juncaceae |
| Genus: | Luzula DC.,conserved name |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Luzula is a genus offlowering plants in the rush familyJuncaceae. The genus has acosmopolitan distribution, with species occurring throughout the world, especially intemperate regions, theArctic, and higher elevation areas in thetropics.[2] Plants of the genus are known commonly aswood-rush,[3]wood rush, orwoodrush.[4] Possible origins of the genus name include theItalianlucciola ("to shine, sparkle") or theLatinluzulae orluxulae, fromlux ("light"), inspired by the way the plants sparkle when wet withdew.[2] Another etymology sometimes given is that it does derive fromlucciola but that this meant a mid-summer field, or from theLatinluculus, meaning a small place; the same source also states that this name was applied byLuigi Anguillara (an Italianbotanist) in 1561.[5]
These rushes are usuallyperennial plants withrhizomes and sometimesstolons. They generally form clumps of cylindrical stems and narrow leaves with hair-lined edges. Theinflorescence is often a dense cluster of flowers with two leaf-likebracts at the base, or sometimes a solitary flower or a few flowers borne together. They have six brownishtepals.[2][6]
Luzula species are used as food plants by thelarvae of someLepidoptera species, including thesmoky wainscot. Several moths of the genusColeophora have been observed on the plants.Coleophora biforis andC. otidipennella feed exclusively onLuzula.C. antennariella is limited toLuzula pilosa, andC. sylvaticella feeds only onL. sylvatica.
Some species, notablyLuzula sylvatica and its cultivars, are used as ornamental garden plants.
There are around 140 species in the genus:[7]
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| Other | |
