Luzula multiflora (Ehrh.) Lej.

Common woodrush, heath wood-rush

About plant names...

Common woodrush is either circumboreal—native to northern areas of the world—or an introduced species here in North America. The jury is still out. It prefers open woodlands and grassy area, and disturbed soils.

Plants: 4-16″ (10-40 cm). Very long white hairs are present on the stem and leaves. Up close, it looks almost as if the plant was swept through a spider web. Stems are round.

Leaves: Grasslike basal leaves are 1¼-4½″ (3.5-12 cm) × 1/16-⅛″ (2-6 mm), with untoothed edges. Stressed leaves are reddish.

Flowers: Six brown-to-black tepals 1/16-⅛″ (2-4 mm) long. They appear on nearly hairless stalks of 3-16 spikes, each with 8-16 ¼″ (6.3 mm) flowers.

Fruits: 3-lobed, oval to round capsules ~1/16″ (1.9-2.6 mm), containing three or more seeds.

Online References:

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Minnesotawildflowers.info

Wikipedia

References:

Brown, Lauren; and Elliman, Ted, Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide, Yale University Press, 2020, 124

7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

5/31/2016 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Luzula multiflora description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Sep 2023.

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6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

5/12/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

6/3/2014 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)

7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/12/2016 · Wildlife Pond Trail, Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Range:

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