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Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)

• Family: Rush (Juncaceae)
• Flowering: May-September.
• Field Marks: This is the only Juncus with the flowers appearing lateral on the stem and no leaves.
• Habitat: Wet ground, in ditches, swamps, marshes, around ponds and lakes.
• Habit: Tufted perennial herb with rhizomes.
• Stems: Erect, hollow, smooth, up to 4 1/2 feet tall.
• Leaves: None.
• Flowers: Several in a cluster, arising from the stem a few inches below the top, each flower green or brown, about 1/6 inch long.
• Sepals: 3, free from each other, narrow, tapering to a point.
• Petals: 3, free from each other, narrow, tapering to a point.
• Stamens: 3.
• Pistils: Ovary superior.
• Fruits: Capsules obovoid, brown, smooth, about 1/6 inch long; seeds numerous, straw-colored, 1/40 inch long.
• Notes: Muskrats sometimes eat the stems of this rush; the seeds are eaten by waterfowl.