Scientific name: Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin
Common name: Great Wood-rush
Description
Habit: Perennials, vegetatively grass-like, with long, densely tufted rhizomes; stems more or less erect, up to 80cm high; growing in drier places than most species of Juncus.
Leaves: Flat, soft, grass-like leaves edged with long fine, silky hairs, 15-30cm long and up to 20mm wide; basal leaves 5-20(-30)mm wide, spreading, sparsely to densely ciliate.
Flowers: Inflorescence large and diffuse, with numerous mostly-stalked clusters of 2-5 flowers; perianth-segments brown, acute, 2-4(-4.5)mm, inner longer than outer, with wide hyaline margin; ovary 1-celled, containing 3 seeds, which often bear a white, soft appendage, style longer than ovary; stamens 6, anthers 6 times as long as filaments.
Fruits: Capsule, +/- equalling the perianth-segments, ovoid; with 3 seeds, appendage of seeds very small and inconspicuous, seeds slightly shiny; basal appendage small.
Habitat: Woods, thickets, glens and mountain-ledges.
Distribution: Frequent.
Native status: Native
Of conservation interest: No