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

JUNCACEAE (Luzula)
Luzula spicata (L.) DC. var. compacta E.Mey., Syn. Luzul. 19 (1823); Luzula compacta (E.Mey.) Dalla Torre
& Sarnth., Farn- u. Blütenpfl. Tirol. 1: 437 (1906), non sensu orig., nom. superfl.; Luzula spicata f. compacta
(E.Mey.) I.Grint., Fl. Rep. Soc. Roman. 11: 596 (1966). T: Bohemia, ‘Riesengebirge’ [the Krkonoše Mtns];
syn: A.J.Krocker, Fl. Siles. 5(1): tab. 52 (1787) [a mixture of elements belonging to subsp. spicata and subsp.
conglomerata were given by E.Meyer; the name was validated through a reference to A.J.Krocker, Fl. Siles.
5(1): 572 (1787)].
Luzula spicata var. relaxa Krylov, Fl. Alt. & Tomsk. Gub. 6: 1401 (1912). T: not indicated.
Maps: E.Hultén, Kongl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., ser. 5, 7(1): map 218 (1958); H.Meusel, E.Jäger &
E.Weinert, Vergl. Chorol. Zentraleur. Fl. 1: 88 (1965).
Perennials, usually (5–) 10–30 (–40) cm tall, densely caespitose; rhizome short; stolons
absent. Basal leaves numerous, usually 1.0–2.5 (–3.5) mm wide; cauline leaves 2–3 (–4);
basal leaves ±acute to obtuse (not swollen); cauline leaves and bract acute, with margins
±densely papillose-serrulate. Lower bract subherbaceous or brownish membranous, shorter
than or equalling inflorescence. Inflorescence nodding, rarely suberect, ±interrupted at base
or not so, composed of clusters subtended by conspicuous middle bracts; middle bracts
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, membranous, ciliate. Tepals ±equal, glabrous, oblong-lanceolate,
acuminate, brown, with indistinct paler margins distally. Stamens 6; style 0.2–0.4 mm long;
stigmas 0.8–1.3 mm long. Capsules dark castaneous-brown, usually subacute. Seeds
±ellipsoidal, ±paler brown, (0.8–) 0.9–1.1 (–1.3) mm long, (0.5–) 0.6–0.7 mm wide; seedcoat
distinct, forming a pale apex; appendage whitish-yellowish, 0.1 (–0.2) mm long,
fibrillate.
A widely distributed complex of distantly disjunct populations confined to the Arctic and
high altitudes in the N hemisphere mountains. Individual populations differ from one another
in a series of mostly quantitative traits. The geographical variability is accompanied by an
agmatoploid variation. The following 5 subspecies are recognized; some populations (in
Turkey and the Alps) do not fit this pattern. The whole complex requires a detailed revision.
A recent study (C.Garcia-Herran, in litt.) revealed a unique feature of the L. spicata group:
partially fragmented ("aneuploid'') chromosome sets in populations or groups of populations.
Note: Differences between the size of seeds, capsules and tepals given below and that
reported in the literature is a consequence of a different method of measurement. Seeds (as
everywhere in Luzula) are measured excluding the basal appendage, seen from above (dorsal
view), tepals and capsule segments are first liberated from the inflorescence and measured
separately.
1 Anthers 0.4–0.5 (–0.7) mm long, ±equalling filaments
2 Inflorescence usually interrupted at base 29a. subsp. spicata
2: Inflorescence compact
3 Seeds usually 0.9–1.2 mm long; capsule segments 1.5–2.1 mm long;
inflorescence 1.2–1.5 × c. 1.0 cm 29b. subsp. conglomerata
3: Seeds usually 0.7–0.9 (–1.0) mm long; capsule segments 1.2–1.7 mm
long; inflorescence 0.7–1.3 × 0.7–0.8 cm 29c. subsp. mongolica
1: Anthers (0.5–) 0.6–0.9 (–1.2) mm long, at least 1.5–2.0 times as long as
filaments
4 Capsule segments 2.0–2.8 mm long 29d. subsp. italica
4: Capsule segments 1.4–1.9 mm long 29e. subsp. nevadensis
29a. Luzula spicata (L.) DC. subsp. spicata
Luzula obtusata Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 294 (1855). T: Greenland, ‘Friedrichthal Groenlandiae’,
R.F.Hohenacker; syn: P, PR.
Luzula spicata var. petraea Laest., Bot. Not. 1858: 145 (1858) [vel Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. 11:
260–270 (1839), n.v.]. T: Njammats i Qvickjock, L.L.Laestadius; syn: UPS.
Luzula spicata var. major Lange, Consp. Fl. Groenland. 128 (1880). T: [Greenland] ‘Disco i Lyngmarken,
T. Fries; syn: n.v.; Tunugdliarfik-Fjord, A.Kornerup; syn: C.
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