FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Luzula multiflora, Heath Wood-rush, Vallhæra

Luzula multiflora; The Heath Wood-rush resembles grasses or sedges - like all Luzula species do. Contrary to many of the Juncus rushes wich have long hollow spiny leaves, Luzula's have flat grass-like leaves - making them even more resemble grasses. At close inspection of the flowers of any rush (small but nevertheless recognizable as 6-starred flowers), it becomes immediately apparent that rushes (Juncaceae with the two major genera being Juncus and Luzula) are more closely related to the lily family than to grasses or sedges. The heath wood-rush grows in all kind of heather- and grasslands except for the most barren and hostile highlands. A charactistic feature for recognising this species is the rather long white hairs on the leaves. Another feature that distuinguishes this Luzula from other Luzula's is is the contracted, more or less globular, inflorescence. But the reddish colored Sudetan Wood-rush however, also has a similar inflorescence.
The Heath Wood-rush (Luzula multiflora) is a member of the rush family (Juncaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Vallhæra.