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Luzula echinata

(Small) F.J. Herm.

Hedgehog Woodrush

G5Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130372
Element CodePMJUN02080
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderJuncales
FamilyJuncaceae
GenusLuzula
Synonyms
Luzula campestris var. echinata(Small) Fern. & Wieg.Luzula multiflora var. echinata(Small) Mohlenbrock
Other Common Names
hedgehog woodrush (EN) Luzule hérisson (FR) Spreading Wood-rush (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-05-19
Change Date1985-04-10
Edition Date2025-05-19
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Luzula echinata is a perennial graminoid in mesic to dry forests, bluffs, and streamsides occurring in eastern North America from southern Ontario, Canada and the United States from southeastern Massachusetts, southeastern New York, and Pennsylvania west to Iowa and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. There are estimated to be over 400 occurrences, which potentially face threats from development, logging, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Luzula echinata occurs in eastern North America from southern Ontario, Canada and the United States from southeastern Massachusetts, southeastern New York, and Pennsylvania west to Iowa and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas (FNA 2000, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 1.9 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 400 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, logging, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Luzula echinata grows in "mesic to dry forests," and "bluffs, wooded slopes, alluvial woods, streamsides, under hardwoods and occasionally in clearings" (FNA 2000, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - MixedForest Edge
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN1
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS1Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
FloridaSNRYes
IowaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
KentuckyS4Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
IndianaSNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
DelawareS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
IllinoisS1Yes
New YorkS3Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
New JerseyS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (7)
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2000. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 22. Magnoliophyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae (in part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 352 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).