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Synonyms: Luzula meridionalis var. densiflora H.Nordensk. APNI*
Luzula campestris var. bulbosa Buchenau APNI*

Description: Small perennial with scattered, often few-leaved, but rather robust tufts, ± bulbous at base.

Leaves 1.5–4.0 (rarely to 5.0) mm wide, flat, rather stiff; margins densely hairy, or sometimes only moderately hairy and marginal papillae obvious; apex obtuse.

Culms 11–50 cm long, 0.3–1.4 mm diam., much exceeding leaves, usually with 1 or 2 very broad cauline leaves. Inflorescence of several ovoid clusters c. 5 (occasionally 10) mm diam., central cluster sessile, other clusters on peduncles to 4 cm long, or sometimes reduced to a single head. Leafy bracts 1 or 2; apex subulate to acute or obtuse. Flowers 1.6–2.5 (rarely to 3.0) mm long. Outer tepals acuminate, inner acute, pale red-brown with ± broad creamy or hyaline margins. Anthers 0.3–0.7 mm long.

Capsule equalling or slightly shorter than tepals, red-brown above, yellow-brown below, rarely red-brown throughout, smooth or papillose at apex; seeds c. 1 mm long; caruncle about a third the length of seed.

Herbarium Sheet

Herbarium Sheet

Flowering: spring–summer.

Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist rather shady sites, often on clay, in eucalypt woodland or open grassland; south from Torrington.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, SWP
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.

AVH map***

A variable species, most noticeably in the density of hairs on the leaf margins and tepal size - may include more than one taxon but needs further study. Plants from coastal regions (and some from NT, CT and NWS) have less hairiy leaf margins; they also differ from the typical form in having slightly narrower leaves, and a relatively larger caruncle.