(rufous woodrush)
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Photo of Luzula rufescens by Martha Raynolds
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Luzula rufescens is a loosely tufted rush with an umbel of dark reddish flowers, which occurs occasionally in woodlands and meadows, including recently burned areas across the north side of Denali, from the boreal zone into subalpine areas. Plants grow up to 30 cm tall from fibrous roots. Plants have both basal and stem leaves, with reddish sheaths. The basal leaves are narrow, 1-3.5 mm wide, with
ciliate margins. The
inflorescences are umbellate, usually unbranched, the lowest
bract 1/2 length of the
inflorescence. The
inflorescence branches are thin, each bearing a single flower.
Tepals are brown,
scarious margined, and shorter than the
capsule. The
capsule contains 3 seeds. The umbellate
inflorescence distinguishes this species from other rushes in Denali.
Luzula rufescens is perennial and flowers early to mid-summer.
This species is
monoecious with bisexual flowers. Like all rushes,
Luzula rufescens is wind-pollinated. Fruits are a
capsule, seeds are gravity dispersed.
Luzula rufescens is an amphi-Beringian species that occurs in Yukon Territory, Alaska and Eurasia. In Alaska, this species occurs sparsely throughout much of the interior, and northwards through the Brooks Range to the Arctic slope. In Denali, L. rufescens occurs across widely scattered sites, mostly north of the Alaska Range crest, and frequently occurs in recently burned sites.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right, depicting recent Denali data.
Luzula rufescens is found in the Park from 300 to 1100 feet. It is found on both northern and southern slopes.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right. For more on how to interpret these figures, visit Understanding Data Presented.
Luzula rufescens
Wide-ranging; somewhat wet to dry sites.
