17. Luzula multiflora (Ehrhart) Lejeune, Flore des Environs de Spa. 1: 169. 1811.
Juncus. multiflorus (Ehrhart) Ehrhart, Calam. Gram. Tripet. Linn., no. 127. 1794, not Retzius 1795; J. campestris (Linnaeus) de Candolle var. multiflorus Ehrhart
Culms densely to loosely cespitose, 10--40 cm. Leaves: basal leaves 3.5--12 cm x 2--6 mm; cauline leaves equaling or exceeding inflorescences. Inflorescences: glomerules 3--16 (each with 8--16 flowers), 1--2 nearly sessile with others on evident peduncles, mostly cylindric; secondary branches sometimes present, usually straight, erect; proximal inflorescence bract barely as long as to exceeding inflorescence. Flowers: tepals pale brown to chestnut brown to blackish with clear margins, 2--4 mm; outer and inner whorl ± equal, or outer whorl slightly longer (outer whorl pointed, inner whorl pointed or truncate-mucronate); anthers not more than 2 times filament length; stigmas 0.8--1.5 mm; styles not persistent in fruit. Capsules pale to brown to black, globose, shorter than to ± equaling tepals. Seeds 1.1--1.7 mm; caruncles 0.2--0.6 mm.
Subspecies 6 (3 in the flora): North America; Eurasia.
Many names have been applied to members of this variable complex throughout the range of this flora. No monograph is yet available to enable a satisfactory treatment.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Jarolimova, V. and J. Kirschner. 1995. Tetraploids in Luzula multiflora (Juncaceae) in Ireland. Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 30: 389--396. Kirschner, J. 1990. Luzula multiflora and allied species (Juncaceae): A nomenclatural study. Taxon 39: 106--114.
