Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Juncus mertensianus
Mertens' rush
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.

Habitat: Wet places along streams and lakes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains

Flowers: July - September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Description:
General:

Rhizomatous perennial, the stems clustered, somewhat flattened, 1-2.5 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, the stem leaves 1-4, the blades semi-terete, with prominent partitions; leaf bases sheathing, the sheathes projecting into rounded or acute, membranous auricles 1-2 mm. long.

Flowers:

Flowers numerous in a terminal, capitate cluster up to 2 cm. broad, the involucral bract shorter to much longer than the head; perianth 3-4 mm. long, the 6 segments dark brown, narrowly lanceolate and somewhat awl-shaped; stamens 6, the anthers shorter than the filaments.

Fruits:

Capsule about equal to the perianth, cylindric-obovoid, abruptly truncate.

Accepted Name:
Juncus mertensianus Bong.
Publication: Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math. 2: 167. 1833.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Juncus duranii Ewan
Juncus mertensianus Bong. var. duranii (Ewan) F.J. Herm.
Juncus mertensianus Bong. var. filifolius Suksd.
Juncus slwookoorum S. Young
Additional Resources:

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

WA Flora Checklist: Juncus mertensianus checklist entry

OregonFlora: Juncus mertensianus information

E-Flora BC: Juncus mertensianus atlas page

CalPhotos: Juncus mertensianus photos

30 photographs:
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