Luzula alpestris H.Nordensk. APNI* 
Description: Small perennial with dense stiff short tufts.
Leaves 1.0–2.0 mm wide, stiff, ± channelled; margins thickened, moderately hairy above, with longer hairs near base of blade, papillose; apex obtuse.
Culms 7–15 (rarely to 20) cm long, 0.5–1.1 mm diam., much exceeding leaves. Inflorescence a single head, ovate or sometimes oblong, 0.7–1 cm long, to 1.5 cm diam. Leafy bracts 2–4, obtuse or acute. Flowers 1.9–2.4 mm long. Outer tepals shortly acuminate, inner acute, pale brown to red-brown with broad whitish hyaline margins. Anthers 0.4–0.6 mm long.
Capsule slightly shorter than or equalling tepals, red-brown to dark brown, papillose near apex; seeds c. 1 mm long; caruncle about an eighth the length of seed.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in alpine and subalpine tussock grassland and herbfields; south from the Kosciusko area.
NSW subdivisions: ST
Other Australian states: Vic.
Text by E. Edgar & K. L. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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