Luzula bulbosa
Brittonia 1: 85. 1931Smyth, B. B. & L. C. R. Smyth, Trans. Kansas A.
Rhizomes short, slender, bearing few to several white, swollen (storage) leaf bases. Culms weakly cespitose or solitary, 8–40 cm. Leaves: basal leaves few; cauline leaves 2–3, to 17 cm × 7 mm, margins scarcely to densely ciliate. Inflorescences: glomerules 3–20 (each with 6–20 flowers), central glomerules sessile or nearly sessile, cylindric, 5–12 × 5–7 mm; peduncles straight, erect, 0.5–7 cm; proximal inflorescence bract leaflike (margins pilose), shorter than inflorescence, margins pilose; bracts purplish with long clear apex, sheathing, margins sparsely to densely ciliate; bracteoles white-clear, shining, margins fimbriate. Flowers: tepals with shining chestnut centers and usually wide clear margins and apex, 2–3 mm; outer whorl usually exceeding inner whorl, at least by awned tip; anthers 1–2 times filament length; stigmas 3–4 times length of styles. Capsules brown, shining, obovoid (apex truncate), equal or longer than tepals, apex truncate. Seeds dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.9–1.3 mm; caruncle 0.5–0.7 mm. 2n = 12.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting spring–early summer.
Habitat: Dry situations in woods and fields 50–600 m
Distribution
Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kan., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tex., Tenn., Va., W.Va.
Discussion
Luzula bulbosa has slender rhizomes that bear few to several white, swollen (storage) leaf bases; cauline leaves (numbering 2–3) have scarcely to densely ciliate margins; flowers have stigmas 3–4 times the length of the styles.
Selected References
None.