Part 6. JUNCACEAE 1: Rostkovia to Luzula - Species Plantarum ...

JUNCACEAE (Luzula)
castaneous-brown, smooth above; capsule segments 1.9–2.1 × 1.3–1.4 mm. Seeds 1.2–1.3 mm
long, c. 0.7 mm wide; appendage indistinct; base fibrillate.
The type plant is intermediate between L. parviflora and L. effusa in many characters. The
material is too scanty to allow a more definite conclusion; it may be a result of hybridization
or old introgression, or alternatively, it may represent a local, isolated aberrant derived from
L. parviflora. In addition to the above locality, similar plants but closer to L. effusa were
identified from SW Sichuan, near Muli monastery, H.Handel-Mazzetti 7475 (WU); they are
more robust and have slightly papillose capsules. All these intermediates seem to be fertile.
Sect. 5. ALPINAE
Luzula sect. Alpinae Chrtek & Křísa, Preslia 46: 211 (1974)
Luzula subsect. Alpinae (Chrtek & Křísa) Kovtonyuk, Bot. Žurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 72: 1399 (1987);
Luzula sect. Spicatae K.F.Wu, J. E. China Norm. Univ., Nat. Sci. Ed., 1992(3): 101 (1992), nom. illeg.
T: Luzula spicata (L.) DC.
Perennials. Leaves with acute to acuminate tips (mostly all leaves, sometimes only cauline
ones). Lower bract herbaceous to membranous. Inflorescence usually nodding, less often
erect (if so, then usually a ±compact single head), spike-like or paniculate, congested or
interrupted at base. Seeds subglobular to ellipsoid; appendage indistinct, to 0.2 mm long or
±lacking; base fibrillate. Diploids or agmatoploids.
An intricate, not yet fully monographed group of 20 species distributed in the mountains of
the northern hemisphere, and in South America and New Zealand, again mainly in high
mountains. Here a new revision is presented but a number of questions remain unanswered.
1 Abaxial surface of basal leaves with thick white tomentum 25. L. ulophylla
1: Abaxial surface of basal leaves glabrous (margins usually ciliate)
2 Plants stoloniferous
3 Stem 10–45 cm long; inflorescence ±nodding; stem much overtopping
basal leaves; tepals reddish-blackish 42. L. vulcanica
3: Stem less than 5 cm long; inflorescence ±erect; stem shorter than or
scarcely equalling basal leaves, often not visible; tepals whitishmembranous
with pale brown midrib 27. L. celata
2: Stolons absent
4 Stamens 3, rarely 4–5
5 Inflorescence an interrupted panicle composed of remote panicles of
spike-like flower clusters; inflorescence constitutes at least 1/3 of
plant height
6 Outer tepals usually 2.5–3.0 mm long; style 0.4–0.5 mm long;
stigmas 1.0–1.2 mm long 32. L. ecuadoriensis
6: Outer tepals usually up to 2 mm long; style 0.2–0.4 mm long;
stigmas 0.5–0.7 mm long 33. L. excelsa
5: Inflorescence ±spike-like (not composed of panicles of clusters),
compact or interrupted or of usually 3–6 cylindrical ±pedunculate
clusters; inflorescence constitutes less than 1/5 of plant height
7 Tepals ciliate
8 Plants to 13 cm tall; stem thin, c. 0.3–0.4 mm diam. in upper part;
inflorescence ±erect to slightly nodding, usually 2.5–5 cm long 43. L. antarctica
8: Plants usually 20–60 cm tall; stem rigid, about 1 mm diam. in
upper part; inflorescence nodding, usually 1.0–1.5 cm long 41. L. peruviana
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