Culms densely cespitose, stiffly erect, reddish brown, 3–26 cm. Leaves: basal leaves reddish, 2.5–7 cm × 2–5 mm, firm, apex callous, glabrous. Inflorescences pyramidal, 5–10 mm wide; glomerules 1–5, sessile, sometimes with 1–2 smaller glomerules on short peduncles; proximal inflorescence bract conspicuous, reddish, usually exceeding inflorescence, generally stiff; bracteoles clear. Flowers: tepals very dark with clear margins, 2–3 mm; outer whorl slightly exceeding inner whorl; anthers ± equaling filaments. Capsules dark brown to black in distal portion, much shorter than tepals; (beak 0.3 mm). Seeds dark brown, oval, 0.8 mm; caruncle about 0.2 mm. 2n = 20, 22.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting summer.
Habitat: Alpine and subalpine meadows, fell-fields
Elevation: 2700–3600 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

The culms of Luzula orestera are reddish brown and stiffly erect; basal leaves are reddish, firm, and glabrous with an overlapping arrangement.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.