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pasture rush, soft rush

Habit Plants perennial, 50–150 cm tall, cespitose; fruiting stems stout, usually 2–4.9 mm diameter above distal sheath; fresh upper stems shiny, smooth, dried stems with (12)18–26(32) weak low ridges, slender and relatively inconspicuous, visible on one side when dried, dried ridges capped with low dull cells (at 10×).
Leaves

lacking blades;

distal sheaths dull or shiny; smooth or papillose;

apex symmetrical or asymmetrical; thin or thickened, winged or not.

Inflorescences

dense or open;

inflorescence bracts not swollen; erect in fruit.

Flowers

tepals 6, usually green to pale brown (dark brown-striped);

stamens 3;

filaments 0.4–0.7 mm;

anthers 0.4–0.7 mm;

styles 0–0.4 mm.

Capsules

1.6–2.5 mm; shorter than the tepals; light to dark brown;

apices obtuse to acute (notched), 1-chambered.

Seeds

0.4–0.5 × 0.2 mm, reticulate, apiculate.

Juncus acutus

Juncus effusus

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

The various subspecies include two introductions that often grow mingled with our native plants; the species can dominate wet pastures with heavy grazing. 9 subspecies; 3 subspecies in Oregon.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 276
Peter Zika
Sibling taxa
J. acuminatus, J. anthelatus, J. articulatus, J. balticus, J. bolanderi, J. brevicaudatus, J. breweri, J. bryoides, J. bufonius, J. bulbosus, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. conglomeratus, J. covillei, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dudleyi, J. effusus, J. ensifolius, J. ensifolius x Juncus nevadensis, J. exiguus, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. gerardi, J. hemiendytus, J. hesperius, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. laccatus, J. lescurii, J. longistylis, J. marginatus, J. mertensianus, J. mexicanus, J. nevadensis, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. planifolius, J. ranarius, J. regelii, J. saximontanus, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. triglumis, J. trilocularis, J. uncialis
J. acuminatus, J. anthelatus, J. articulatus, J. balticus, J. bolanderi, J. brevicaudatus, J. breweri, J. bryoides, J. bufonius, J. bulbosus, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. conglomeratus, J. covillei, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dudleyi, J. ensifolius, J. ensifolius x Juncus nevadensis, J. exiguus, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. gerardi, J. hemiendytus, J. hesperius, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. laccatus, J. lescurii, J. longistylis, J. marginatus, J. mertensianus, J. mexicanus, J. nevadensis, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. planifolius, J. ranarius, J. regelii, J. saximontanus, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. triglumis, J. trilocularis, J. uncialis
Subordinate taxa
J. effusus ssp. effusus, J. effusus ssp. pacificus, J. effusus ssp. solutus
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