Luzula celata
Common name
dwarf woodrush
Synonyms
None
Family
Juncaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Rushes & Allied Plants
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
LUZCEL
Chromosome number
2n = 12
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: RR
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Declining
2004 | Serious Decline
Distribution
Endemic. South and Stewart Islands. In the South Island found east of the main divide from Marlborough to Southland.
Habitat
Coastal to montane. Usually in shingly ground, sandy hollows, river terraces, tarn margins, often found growing within Raoulia mats.
Features
An inconspicuous, creeping woodrush, forming grey-green to brownish cushion-like tufts, usually less than 4cm diameter. Sometime half buried in sand, so that only leaf tips and flowers are visible. Leaves 1-3cm long, 0.5-1mm wide, folded inwards towards base, tips pointed; margins clad in long, thickly clustered, soft white hairs. Flowering stems much shorter than leaves, scarcely elongating as fruit matures. Flowers 2mm long, 6-16 in a single cluster, with minimal stalk.
Similar taxa
Luzula ulophylla. Luzula celata has hairy leaf margins and flower hidden amongst leaves. L. ulophylla has woolly hairs on back of leaves as well as margins and flowering stems much taller than its leaves.
Flowering
October to December
Flower colours
Brown, White
Fruiting
December to April (but seedheads long persistent)
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and division of whole plants.
Threats
The main threat throughout this species range is loss of habitat, caused by land development, weed invasion and general habitat degredation, especially erosion. Overstocking of paddocks containing this species has been a problem in some locations.
Etymology
luzula: Latinized form of the Italian vernacular name (lucciola) for this plant
celata: Hidden
Where To Buy
Not commercially available.
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (1 September 2003). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1970).
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II, Wellington, Government Printer.
Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Luzula celata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/luzula-celata/ (Date website was queried)