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Juncus effusus
Common Name: Soft Rush
or Common Rush
Family: Juncaceae
Description: A slow spreading, clump forming, grass-like perennial that is possibly toxic to mammals. Resistant to pollution.
Leaves: No leaves
Flowers: The greenish-brown, hermaphroditic flowers are not readily noticeable; lateral on the stem; 2 to 10 cm long
Seeds: Develop inside a three celled egg-shaped capsule; 0.5 to 0.6 mm long; straw colored. Seeds can remain viable for up to 60 years.
Stem: Erect, hollow, smooth, up to 1.4 m.
Branching Pattern: Emerge from a stout branching rhizome (usually 15-25 cm long)
Height: Up to 1.5 meters
Conditions/Habitat/Kind of Forest: Marshes, swamps, and seasonal wetlands preferably in direct sunlight.
Range: Temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Conservation Status-US/ World Wide: Invasive
Uses (Human): The stems have traditionally been used for making floor mats and chair seats. Also used for a wide variety of medicinal uses and to make paper.
References:
Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Particulars and Photographs. 2005. University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Accessed: November 29, 2005. <http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/juefpic.html>
Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains. February 23, 2005. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Accessed: November 29, 2005. <http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/plntguid/species/junceffu.htm>
Plants for a Future. June 2004. Accessed: November 29, 2005. <http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Juncus+effusus>
USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.