Great Wood-rush

Great Wood-rush - Luzula sylvatica

Alternative names
Greater Woodrush
Description

This is a grass like plant with very wide leaves and much branched inflorescences. The edges of the leaves have long white hairs. It is the largest British Wood-rush.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodland and damp shady places on acid soil.

When to see it

Flowers in May and June.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread but local over most of Britain, but less common around East Anglia.

VC55 Status

Local in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 20 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

Elachista regificella

The larva of the moth Elachista regificella mines the leaves of Wood-rush species forming a blister mine that often causes the leaf blade to pucker. Other Elachista species and also some fly species may also mine Wood-rush, so care is needed with identification of the mines.