Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains
61. Juncaceae, the Rush Family
1. Juncus L. -- Rush12. Juncus longistylis Torr.
Rhizomatous perennial 3-7 dm tall. Leaves mostly basal, reduced upward, the upper ones coming off 1/2 to 3/4 the distance up the stem; blades mostly 1/4 to 3/4 the length of the stem, flat and grasslike, 1-3 mm wide; sheaths green, with broad membranous margins extending beyond the sheath to form 2 low, rounded or truncate auricles. Inflorescence sparingly branched from the base, comprised of (2)3-5 hemispheric glomerules each containing 3-8 flowers, the glomerules occasionally crowded into one large many-flowered head. Flowers brown, 4-6 mm long; tepals acute to mucronate, the outer ones mucronate more often than the inner, the margins hyaline and glistening; stamens 6. Capsules cylindric-ellipsoid, 3-locular, shorter than the perianth, rounded to retuse below the beak; seeds cylindric-ellipsoid, 0.3-0.5 mm long, apiculate on the ends. Jun--Aug. Springs, boggy places and shores, where water is fresh; frequent in the n part and the Black Hills, less common s; (Newf. and w Ont. to B.C., s to MI, MN, NE, CO, NM and Sierran CA).
Next Section -- Juncus interior Wieg. -- Inland rush
Return to Family -- Juncaceae - The Rush Family
Next Section -- Juncus marginatus Rostk. -- Grassleaf rush
