Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Juncus effusus
common rush, Pacific rush, soft rush
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Moist areas, from coastal tideflats to mountain meadows and ridges.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Both native and introduced

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Description:
General:

Strongly tufted perennial with stout rhizomes, the stems terete, 2-10 dm. tall, finely grooved, 1.5-3 mm. thick.

Leaves:

Leaves bladeless or with a short, awn-like blade; leaf bases sheathing, the sheaths pale to deep brown, 5-12 cm. long.

Flowers:

Inflorescence apparently lateral, the involucral bract terete and resembling the stem, 5-20 cm. long, up to 1/3 the length of the stem; flowers numerous in a subcapitate to diffuse panicle up to 15 cm. long; perianth 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the 6 segments narrowly lanceolate; stamens 3, opposite the outer tepals.

Fruits:

Capsule equal to the perianth, obovoid but three-angled above, flat on the end.

Accepted Name:
Juncus effusus L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 326. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Infraspecies:
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Juncus effusus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Juncus effusus checklist entry

OregonFlora: Juncus effusus information

E-Flora BC: Juncus effusus atlas page

CalPhotos: Juncus effusus photos

60 photographs:
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