320214 Luzula groenlandica Böcher
Distribution
Western Alaska: Rare
Central Canada: Rare
Hudson Bay - Labrador: Scattered
Western Greenland: Scattered
Southern Arcti Tundra: Scattered
Shrub Tundra: Scattered
Bordering boreal or alpine areas: Scattered
- Böcher, Meddel. Grønland 147, 7: 18 (1950). Lectotype (C): Greenland: on the right from the air base in Søndre Strømfjord, 27. July 1946, leg. T.W. Böcher 860 (Kirschner et al. 2002a: 153).
2n=
24. - Alaska, Canada, Greenland. - Several reports. Also a Yukon Territory report of 2n = 24 for L. multiflora (Mulligan and Porsild 1970) may belong here.
Kirschner et al. (2002a) reported the chromosome number as 2n = 24 with 'full-size' chromosomes, i.e., a real tetraploid.
Not included: A deviating report of 2n = 36 (Lambert and Giesi 1967) must be checked against voucher before acceptance because L. groenlandica is easily confused with L. multiflora s. lat.
Geography: North American (N): ALA CAN GRL.
Notes: Böcher (1950) reported the following morphological differences for Luzula groenlandica vs. L. multiflora subsp. frigida: perianth leaves 2-2.5 vs. 2.5-3.5 mm; seeds <1.1 vs. >1.1 mm; and caruncle short vs. long. A consistent morphological separation of the taxon on these characters has proved problematic in specimens from Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Luzula groenlandica belongs in the same relationship as L. multiflora s. lat. but is kept apart by a generally lower chromosome number (2n = 24 vs. mainly 2n = 36). There are now several European counts of 2n = 24 reported from L. multiflora, and the rank of L. groenlandica perhaps needs reinvestigation as L. multiflora is very polymorphic (see above).
Higher Taxa
- Luzula [3202,genus]