Japanese name: スズメノヤリ（雀槍） Scientific name:Luzula capitata
[Overview]
A perennial 10–20 cm tall, seen in grasslands and similar places.
The leaves consist of basal leaves and several alternate leaves on the stem; both are linear, with many long white hairs on the margins.
The leaves take on a purple tinge in winter.
A head-like inflorescence is borne at the stem tip, with several flowers densely set.
Linear bracts are attached at the base of the inflorescence.
There are 6 tepals, lanceolate and reddish brown, with white membranous margins.
The anthers are much longer than the filaments.
The fruit is a capsule, and the seeds have a white appendage (caruncle) that ants like; the seeds are carried and dispersed by ants.
[Cultivation]
Propagate mainly by division, but seed is also possible.
It prefers fertile soil that is sunny and well drained.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If fertilizer is applied at planting, no further fertilizing is particularly needed.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
[Notes]
The Japanese name compares the flower spike to a keyari (a feather-tufted spear).
