Rhizomes horizontal, stout. Culms 15–48 cm. Leaves: basal leaf sheaths bluish green; basal leaves bluish green, abruptly tapered, less than 19 cm × 3–5 mm, apex long. Inflorescences with glomerules crowded at ends of uneven peduncles; glomerules each with 3–12 flowers, central glomerules sessile or nearly sessile; peduncles arching in all directions; proximal inflorescence bract inconspicuous, 2–3 cm; bracteoles clear, margins ciliate. Flowers: tepals pale to dark brown (apex acute), 1.5–2 mm, apex acute; anthers ± equaling filament length. Capsules pale to dark brown-purple, shorter than tepals; (beak short). Seeds brown, oblong-ovoid, 1.1–1.2 mm; caruncle absent. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting summer.
Habitat: Alpine to subalpine moist or wet places
Elevation: 2000–3500 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Oreg.

Discussion

Luzula subcongesta has bluish green basal leaves, tapered abruptly to the long apex.

Selected References

Hämet-Ahti, L. and V. Virrankoski. 1971. Cytotaxonomic notes on some monocotyledons of Alaska and northern British Columbia. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 8: 156--159.

Hämet-Ahti, L. 1986. North American races of Juncus alpinoarticulatus. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 23: 277--281.

Boivin, B. 19672--1979. Flora of the prairie provinces. Part I(--IV). Monopsida. Phytologia 42(5): 385--414.15--18, 22--23, 42--43: passim.

Harriman, N. A. and D. Redmond. 1976. Somatic chromosome numbers for some North American species of Juncus L. Rhodora 78: 727--738.

Holmen, K. and H. Mathiesen. 1953. Luzula wahlenbergii in Greenland. Bot. Tidsskr. 49: 233--238.

Jørgensen, C. A., T. JH. Sørensen, and M. Westergaard. 1958. The flowering plants of Greenland: A taxonomical and cytological survey. Biol. Skr. 9(4): 1--172.

Löve, Á. and D. Löve. 1966. Cytotaxonomy of the alpine vascular plants of Mount Washington. University of Colorado Stud. Ser. Biol. 24: 1--74.

Lindquist, B. 1932. Taxonomical remarks on Juncus alpinus Villars and some related species. Bot. Not. 1932: 313--372.

Murray, N. A. and D. M. Johnson. 1987. Taxonomic notes on Juncus pelocarpus s.l. Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 16: 179--187.

Nordenskiöld, H. 1951. Cyto-taxonomical studies in the genus Luzula. I. Somatic chromosomes and chromosome numbers. Hereditas (Lund) 37: 325--355.

Packher, J. G. 1964. Chromosome numbers and taxonomic notes on western Canadian and Arctic plants. Canad. J. Bot. 42: 473--494.

Lower Taxa

None.