Heath Wood-rush

Heath Wood-rush - Luzula multiflora

Description

Very similar to Field Woodrush.  Usually taller and with more ovoid flower heads, on stiffly erect stem, and the typical hairy leaves, but thee characteristics overlap with some forms of Field Woodrush, in some habitats.  It has no rhizomes or stolons, and the anthers are less than 2.5x the length of the filaments (reference: Stace 4th edn.).

Two subspecies may be present in VC55: Luzula multiflora subsp. congesta and subsp. multiflora. 

Similar Species

Luzula campestris (Field Woodrush)

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

The key characters are not visible in a field photo. Unless photos of specimens showing measurements of stamens/stigma are presented (ref to Stace 4th edition for details) records should be confirmed by the County Recorder before submission. 

Habitat

Heaths, woodland glades and moors, mainly on acid or peaty soils.

When to see it

Flowering April to July.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Local in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 34 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