Luzula
Tufted or rhizomatous perennials. Leaves mostly basal, flat or channelled, variably invested with fine white hairs along the margins, rarely glabrous. Flowering stems generally exceeding leaves, usually with 1–4 cauline leaves. Inflorescence a terminal cyme, of 1–several, stalked or sessile, globose clusters, the lower cluster(s) subtended by a leaf-like bract; flowers bisexual, each subtended by 3–4 scarious bracts; perianth segments (tepals) 6, subequal or equal, in 2 whorls, pale to dark brown with pale membranous margins; stamens 6 (all Australian species) or 3; ovary unilocular with 3 ovules; stigma trifid; seeds 3, blackish with a pale, basal connective part (caruncle).
About 80 species, mostly from temperate countries of both hemispheres, confined to high-altitude zones in the tropics; 16 species in Australia, 3 introduced, 6 in Victoria. Specimens of dubious identity are not uncommon, particularly in the subalpine zone, in some cases probably due to hybridism, in others due to imperfectly applied species concepts within this difficult genus.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Luzula. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 233–238. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
