Juncus spicatus, foliis planis subpilosis, spica glomerato-raccmosa basi divisa nutante, petalis longitudine capsulæ.Rost. Monograph. 46.
J. spicatus, foliis planis, spicâ racemosâ nutante basi compositâ, capsulis acutis.Flor. Brit. 386.Eng. Bot. xvii. 1176.
J. spicatus, foliis planis, spica raceniosa nutante.Sp. Pl. 469.Fl. Lap. t. 10. f. 4.Flor. Dan. 270.Huds. 650.With. 350.
Angl.Spiked Woodrush.Spiked Rush.Alpine nodding Rush.
Habitat in alpibus Borealibus.
Peren. July.
Root fibrous, tufted.Stem simple, six or eight inches high, slender, leafy.Leaves linear, channelled, hairy at the base; stem-leaves convolute or subulate.Spike terminal, nodding, cylindrical, oblong, obtuse; spikelets sessile, many-flowered, bracteated.Bractes pale, lanceolate, laciniated.Calyx-leaflets lanceolate, acuminate.Capsule pointed, one-celled, three-sided.
This plant approaches nearer to the Junci than any of the rest of the Luzulæ here described. Its leaves are not so flat or hairy as most of the rest of the genus, and the capsule shows the rudiments of dissepiments. It is not likely to be confounded with any other plant, with the exception, perhaps, of L. pediformis, which is much larger, and has a pointed capsule. It is very rare with us, occurring chiefly in Scotland on the summits of the highest mountains. I found a single specimen in the herbarium of my friend Joseph Woods, Esq. F.L.S., gathered by him on Fairfield, near Ambleside; and this is the only instance that has come to my knowledge of its being found in England.
