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Hairy Wood-Rush

Hairy Wood-Rush

Luzula pilosa

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How common: Very common

Hairy Wood-Rush is a small, early-flowering forest plant that grows in loose clumps on the woodland floor. Its narrow, evergreen leaves have long pale hairs along the edges. It is widespread in Europe and parts of northern Asia and is common in many kinds of woods and edges.

Did you know?

  • Its leaves stay green through winter and can turn reddish in autumn to protect them from strong light and cold.
  • Ants carry off the seeds for their fatty tip and help spread the plant.

About the species

Identification

Low plant forming loose clumps, 15–30 cm tall. Leaves flat, about 1 cm wide, yellow-green and evergreen; the edges have long, pale, sparse hairs that are easy to see. Stems thin and upright. In spring to early summer it bears a loose, airy cluster with stiff, uneven stalks; most flowers stand singly at the tips. Each tiny star has six narrow, dark brown parts. Later, small cone-shaped pods form with three seeds; the seeds have a white fatty tip. Differs from Common Wood-rush, which has tight heads with several flowers together. Flowers in Finland in May–June.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

heath forest

Flowering

May–Jun

About the habitat

Grows in dry to fresh conifer and mixed forests and rich groves; also in clearings, wooded pastures, forest edges, roadsides and by lake or stream shores. Common throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luzula pilosa kz10.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Koululaisille: talvivihreät kasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40241

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Tuore kangasmetsä, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40241

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Metsät: kuivahkot kankaat, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40241

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40241

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40241

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kev%C3%A4tpiippo

See also