BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Luzula hitchcockii | Smooth Woodrush 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Smooth woodrush is a short, rhizomatous perennial graminoid, 6 to 20 inches
(15-50 cm) tall, with round, hollow culms.  The leaves are shiny, 1 to 2
inches (2-6 cm) long, with flattened reddish-brown tips; often becoming
mottled rusty red in midsummer.  Smooth woodrush has a solitary
inflorescence containing small flowers.  Fruits are reddish-brown
capsules containing three seeds [20].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Smooth woodrush has been widely cited as being rhizomatous, and usually
regenerates into extensive colonies.  It also reproduces via seed.

Seeds:  Specific information relating to smooth woodrush is not
available.  Information on alpine rush (Luzula spicata), however, a
species which occupies a similiar environment, is available.  Seed
germination was experimentally induced in L. spicata by random
scarification, which was achieved by repeated freeze-thaw cycles,
followed by stratification for 2 to 3 months.  This germination
requirement may represent an adaptation to fall freeze-thaw cycles
followed by extended chilling under heavy snowpack [7].  In areas with
heavy snowpack, smooth woodrush has exhibited nearly full-sized growth
of etiolated shoots under the snow [12].

Seed dispersal:  Seeds of smooth woodrush are primarily dispersed by the
splash cup method.  Heavy raindrops falling directly, or from a tree
drip edge, throw seeds out from the flared lip of the open capsule.  In
higher elevations where heavy snowpacks restrict smooth woodrush height,
seed dispersal relies upon vibrations from wind or passing animals.


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Smooth woodrush is found in high elevations, generally ranging from
5,700 to 8,200 feet (1,737-2,500 m), with deep, late-melting snowpacks
[20].  It occupies a variety of sites from montane forests to subalpine
and alpine slopes, ridges, meadows, and cirque floors [17].

Soils:  Smooth woodrush is found on soils derived from granitics to
noncalcareous parent materials.  Surface soils tend to be very acidic
(pH 4.2 to 4.8).  Soil textures range from sandy loam to gravelly loam
[10,21,25].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Smooth woodrush is onsidered an indicator of cold environments where
snow lies late [17].  Once smooth woodrush becomes established, it often
forms a heavy mat which excludes other understory plants from
establishing.  It was listed as a mesic site indicator within the
subalpine larch habitat type in the Pacific Northwest [3].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Seasonal records for smooth woodrush are scarce.  The phenological
stages for alpine rush, however, were observed near Boulder, Colorado,
and are as follows [6]:

                            Apparent end            Spring bud  
                         of autumn die-back            break
                        -------------------         ----------
                        
Luzula spicata              20 September        30 March - 15 April


Herbarium specimens of smooth woodrush collected in western Montana
show a flowering period that ranges from June 28 to August 13 for plants at 6,000 to 7,100
feet (1,829-2,164 m).  At high elevations (8,000 to 8,700 feet
(2,438-2,652 m)), flowering occurs from July 15th to September 1 [26].

     

Related categories for Species: Luzula hitchcockii | Smooth Woodrush