Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, east across northern Canada to northeastern North America; also in Eurasia.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine slopes, moraines, and stream banks.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Tufted, grass-like perennial, the slender stems 1-4 dm. tall.
Basal leaves several; stem leaves narrow, slender-pointed, 1-3 mm. broad.
Inflorescence a spikelike panicle 1-3 cm. long, usually nodding; involucral bract often less than 1 cm. long, always shorter than the panicle; perianth dark brown, the 6 segments 2-3 mm. long, acuminate; anthers 0.5 mm. long, shorter than the filaments.
Capsule shorter than the perianth.
Publication: In J. Lamarck and A. P. de Candolle, Fl. France, ed. 3. 1: 161. 1805.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Luzula spicata ssp. spicata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Luzula spicata ssp. spicata checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Luzula spicata ssp. spicata information.
E-Flora BC: Luzula spicata ssp. spicata atlas page.
CalPhotos: Luzula spicata ssp. spicata photos.
USDA Plants: Luzula spicata ssp. spicata information.
