Luzula comosa var. comosa
Hairy wood rush
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Millie Basden · licence
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Luzula comosa var. comosa (Hairy wood rush) is a native California perennial in the Juncaceae family, recognized by densely congested head vs. umbel arrangement.
Hairy wood rush is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, Sierra Nevada, central California Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in marsh edges, damp ditches, open forests, and mesic clearings at elevations up to 650 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces small, densely clustered brown to tan flower heads in compact terminal clusters 1.3 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with slender stems 14 to 78 centimeters tall, often with a bulb-like base, it forms erect, congested clusters of 4 to 10 spikes. Its leaves are typically clustered, with prominent or subtle inflorescence bracts that support 4 to 15 small flowers per spike. The plant produces tiny seeds with small appendages, highlighting its delicate woodland rush characteristics.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by densely congested head vs. umbel arrangement
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marsh edges, shores, damp ditches, mesic clearings, open forest, full sun or partial shade, tolerant of serpentine
Elevation: <= 650 m
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Luzula comosa var. comosa blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Juncus: Run finger along leaf edge - hairy = Luzula, smooth = Juncus.; vs Carex: Luzula has hairy leaf margins; Carex has smooth margins and triangular stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Luzula comosa var. comosa native to California?
Yes. Luzula comosa var. comosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Luzula comosa var. comosa bloom?
Luzula comosa var. comosa blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Luzula comosa var. comosa belong to?
Luzula comosa var. comosa is in the Juncaceae family, genus Luzula.
What habitat does Luzula comosa var. comosa grow in?
Luzula comosa var. comosa grows in Marsh edges, shores, damp ditches, mesic clearings, open forest, full sun or partial shade, tolerant of serpentine.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.