Luzula nivalis

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Luzula nivalis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Juncaceae
Genus: Luzula
Species:
L. nivalis
Binomial name
Luzula nivalis
Synonyms [1] [2]
  • Juncoides arcticum(Blytt) Coville
  • Juncoides nivalis(Laest.) Coville
  • Juncus campestris var. nivalis(Laest.) Sommerf.
  • Luzula arcuata var. hookeriana Trautv.
  • Luzula arcticaBlytt
  • Luzula campestris var. nivalisLaest.
  • Luzula tolmatchewii Kuvaev

Luzula nivalis, commonly known as arctic wood-rush [1] or less commonly as snowy wood-rush [3] [4] (both names are used with or without hyphenation), is a species of perennial rush native to the North American Arctic and Northern Europe. [5] It was described by Polunin (1940) as one of the most abundant, ubiquitous, and ecologically important of all arctic plants. [6]

Contents

Taxonomy and naming

Luzula nivalis is classified under the section Thyrsanochlamydeae of the subgenus Luzula. [7] It belongs to the genus Luzula of the rush family Juncaceae. [7] With regards to the etymology of the binomial: the generic name Luzula could come from the Italian lucciola ("to shine, sparkle") or the Latin luzulae or luxulae , from lux ("light"), inspired by the way the plant's hairs sparkle when wet with dew. [8] Nivalis is Latin for snowy, snow-covered or snow-like. [9]

The exact taxonomy of Luzula nivalis is a little confusing due to confusions over the naming of the taxon; the name L. arctica has frequently [10] (though less occasionally in recent years) been applied this taxon, or it has been regarded as a separate species altogether. [6] Elven et al. (2003) stated that "a number of authors (Hultén 1968, Böcher et al. 1968, Porsild and Cody 1980, Novikov 1990) have considered L. nivalis to be conspecific with L. arctica, but some of them (Hultén 1968, Böcher et al. 1968) have used the name L. arctica, while the others (Porsild and Cody 1980...) [have used] the correct name L. nivalis.". [6] Elven et al. (2003) also noted that L. campestris var. nivalis was widely considered to be conspecific with L. arctica. [6] The current botanical consensus seems to be that lectotypification solves the issue and that L. arctica and L. nivalis should be regarded as the same species, with the name L. nivalis being chosen as this (derived from L. campestris var. nivalis) is the species's basionym and was used before L. arctica. [6] [10]

Description

Luzula nivalis is a relatively small perennial herbaceous plant (or "herb") which grows to heights of between 2.5–25 centimetres (0.98–9.84 in) in a caespitose fashion. [6] L. nivalis has fibrous roots [6] and ascending rhizomes, [2] older plants have vertical stems either at ground level or underground; [6] the plant base is straw-brown/pale castaneous brown in colour. [2] The plant is subglabrous [2] with erect, aerial stems and numerous alternate basal leaves. [6] These crowded leaves are marcescent, [2] flat, remain for many years, usually up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long and 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) wide. [2] L. nivalis also has 1–2 cauline leaves which are 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long; [2] both leaf types are grass-like, flat, linear, straight and possess parallel veins. [2] [6] The leaf tips are obtuse, acuminate, involute, caducous and slightly swollen. [2] [6] Both the blade adaxial and abaxial surfaces are glabrous, with sparse, white, non-glandular hairs along the blade margins. [6]

The inflorescence of Luzula nivalis is congested in a single, dark, many-flowered head 0.8–1.0 × 0.6–0.9 cm in size; [6] between 5–60 small flowers can be found in each inflorescence. [2] This in turn is made up of 2-7 compact clusters, [6] with the basal cluster sometimes on a 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long erecto-patent peduncle. [7] The colour of the subglabrous, linear-lanceolate lower bract ranges from straw-brown to scarious; this bract is much shorter than the inflorescence at a length of 4–9 millimetres (0.16–0.35 in). [2] No pedicels are present. [6] The dark brown bracteoles are ovate, obtuse and sparsely ciliate above with either dentate or lacerate margins, reaching a length of up to 1.2 millimetres (0.047 in). [2] [6] L. nivalis has subequal and acute tepals 1.6–1.9 millimetres (0.063–0.075 in) long and castaneous to blackish brown in colour. [2] The plant has six stamens as well as anthers 0.3–0.6 millimetres (0.012–0.024 in) long, filaments 0.4–0.5 millimetres (0.016–0.020 in) long, three styles 0.1–0.2 millimetres (0.0039–0.0079 in) long and stigmas 0.8–1.0 millimetre (0.031–0.039 in) long. [2] [6] L. nivalis produces an ovoid-trigonous seed capsule with exceeding tepals; capsule segments are blackish brown and 2.1–2.3 × c. 1.2 mm. [2] The seeds themselves are ellipsoidal, smooth, brown and 1.0–1.2 × 0.6–0.7 mm in size. [2] Basel appendages are fibrillate and up to 0.2 mm long. [2] The fruit of L. nivalis is sessile and dry with a persistent and glabrous calyx. [6]

The rosette-like whorl of short leaves in Luzula nivalis allows it to easily be distinguished from Luzula confusa . [11]

Distribution and habitat

Luzula nivalis has an arctic-alpine circumpolar distribution, as L. nivalis is an alpine plant which grows in the arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. [10] Places which L. nivalis grows in include Norway, Sweden, Finland, Svalbard, Greenland, northern Canada, and Alaska in the United States, [2] [8] as well as the Munni river in Siberia. [12]

Luzula nivalis has been found in a wide range of mainly moist habitats and substrates, including wet meadows, snow patches, seepages, [11] along the margins of ponds, marshes, streams (and other water bodies) as well as tundra, slopes and ridges. [6] Occasionally L. nivalis has been found on dry sites including gravel, sand, silt, clay, till. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juncaceae</span> Family of flowering plants commonly known as rushes

Juncaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the rush family. It consists of 8 genera and about 464 known species of slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous monocotyledonous plants that may superficially resemble grasses and sedges. They often grow on infertile soils in a wide range of moisture conditions. The best-known and largest genus is Juncus. Most of the Juncus species grow exclusively in wetland habitats. A few rushes, such as Juncus bufonius are annuals, but most are perennials.

<i>Luzula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula is a genus of flowering plants in the rush family Juncaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with species occurring throughout the world, especially in temperate regions, the Arctic, and higher elevation areas in the tropics. Plants of the genus are known commonly as wood-rush, wood rush, or woodrush. Possible origins of the genus name include the Italian lucciola or the Latin luzulae or luxulae, from lux ("light"), inspired by the way the plants sparkle when wet with dew. Another etymology sometimes given is that it does derive from lucciola but that this meant a mid-summer field, or from the Latin luculus, meaning a small place; the same source also states that this name was applied by Luigi Anguillara in 1561.

<i>Luzula campestris</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula campestris, commonly known as field wood-rush, Good Friday grass or sweep's brush is a flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae. It is a very common plant throughout temperate Europe extending to the Caucasus. This species of Luzula is found on all types of native grasslands, and cultivated areas such as lawns, golf-course greens and fields.

There are over 190 vascular plant species on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. This figure does not include algae, mosses, and lichens, which are non-vascular plants. For an island so far north, this number of species constitutes an astonishing variety of plant life. Because of the harsh climate and the short growing season, all the plants are slow growing. They seldom grow higher than 10 cm (4 in)

<i>Salix arctica</i> Species of willow

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<i>Juncus acutus</i> Species of grass

Juncus acutus, the spiny rush, sharp rush or sharp-pointed rush, is a flowering plant in the monocot family Juncaceae. It is native to the Americas, Northern and Southern Africa, Western and Southern Europe and West Asia, and is found in a variety of wet habitats, such as bogs, fens, meadows, and salt marshes, and along the edges of ponds and lakes.

<i>Luzula sylvatica</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula sylvatica, commonly known as greater wood-rush or great wood-rush, is a perennial flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae.

<i>Luzula comosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula comosa is a species of flowering plant in the rush family known by the common name Pacific woodrush. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it can be found in moist spots in forests and meadows and many other types of habitat. It is a perennial herb quite variable in appearance, often forming small, narrow grasslike tufts. The erect inflorescence is tipped with a series of clustered spikelike flowers. The dark brown perianth parts open to reveal 6 stamens tipped with large anthers.

<i>Luzula multiflora</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula multiflora, the common woodrush or heath wood-rush, is a species of flowering plant in the rush family.

<i>Luzula pilosa</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula pilosa is a species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae with the common name hairy wood-rush. The plant is native to northern Europe and western Asia.

<i>Luzula acuminata</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula acuminata, the hairy woodrush, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the rush family, Juncaceae, that is native to the Eastern United States and Canada. It is 6–47 centimetres (2.4–18.5 in) tall with its basal leaves being of 6–39 centimetres (2.4–15.4 in) high and 2–11 millimetres (0.079–0.433 in) in diameter. It has cauline leaves are 2.5–11.5 centimetres (0.98–4.53 in) tall and 2–5 millimetres (0.079–0.197 in) wide.

<i>Luzula pallescens</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula pallescens is a species of perennial plant in Juncaceae family, commonly known as fen wood-rush.

<i>Luzula nivea</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula nivea, commonly known as snow-white wood-rush, snowy wood-rush and lesser wood-rush, is a species of perennial plant in Juncaceae family.

<i>Luzula lutea</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula lutea, is a species of perennial plant in Juncaceae family which is 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) tall. Its anthers are 1.1–1.8 millimetres (0.043–0.071 in) long while their filaments are 0.3–1.1 millimetres (0.012–0.043 in). The basal leaves of the species are usually 4–7 centimetres (1.6–2.8 in) long and 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) wide, while its cauline leaves are 2–4 centimetres (0.79–1.57 in) in length. Its lower bract is brownish coloured and is 1.0–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long. It has ovate bracteoles which are circa 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) in length.

<i>Luzula luzuloides</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

Luzula luzuloides, the white wood-rush or oakforest wood-rush is a species of flowering plant in the family Juncaceae. It is native to Central Europe, from the Balkans to Fennoscandia, but it has also been introduced to the British Isles and other parts of Europe, and to the north-eastern United States and eastern Canada.

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<i>Machaerina rubiginosa</i> Species of grass-like plant

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References

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