Juncus effusus L. - Soft Rush


 

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Juncus effusus - (image 1 of 3)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Juncaceae

Habitat

Open marshes, shores.

Associates

 

Distribution

Throughout the eastern U.S. and southeast Canada.

Morphology

Perennial, to 1 m. Culms tufted; basal sheathes bladeless, reddish-brown. Inflorescence open, many flowered, green or light brown, appearing to emanate from the side of the culm; involucral bract terete, appearing to be a continuation of the culm; stamens usually 3, persisting with the fruit; fruit trilocular, about equaling the tepals.

Notes

Flowers June to July

Wetland indicator: Obligate

The stems collapse under little pressure, hence the name soft rush. A similar species, J. balticus (Baltic Rush) has brown flowers, culms in distinct rows from creeping rootstocks, and 6 stamens per floret.

 

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.


 


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 Michael Hough © 2009