Juncus brachycephalus |
Juncus xiphioides |
|
---|---|---|
small-head rush |
iris-leaf rush |
|
Habit | Herbs, perennial, cespitose, 2–7 dm. | Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, 5–9 dm. |
Rhizomes | 2–3 mm diam. |
|
Culms | erect, 1–4 mm diam., smooth. |
erect, 2–6 mm diam. |
Cataphylls | 1–2, straw-colored to pink, apex acute. |
0 or 1–2, straw-colored, apex narrowly acute. |
Leaves | basal 1–3, cauline 1–2; auricles 0.6–1.5 mm, apex rounded, scarious; blade terete to compressed, 0.2–12 cm × 0.5–2 mm. |
basal 1–3, cauline 2–6, straw-colored; auricles absent; blade 10–40 cm x (3–)7–12 mm. |
Inflorescences | panicles of 5–80 heads, 5–25 cm, branches ascending; primary bract erect; heads 2–6-flowered, ellipsoid to obovoid, 2–5 mm diam. |
panicles or racemes of 20–50 heads, 2–14 cm, erect or ascending branches; primary bract erect; heads 15–70-flowered, obovoid to globose, 7–11 mm diam. |
Flowers | tepals green to light brown, lanceolate; outer tepals 1.8–2.5 mm, apex obtuse to nearly acute; inner tepals 2–2.8 mm, apex obtuse to nearly acute; stamens 3 or 6, anthers 1/2 filament length. |
tepals green to brown or reddish brown, lanceolate, 2.4–3.7 mm, nearly equal, apex acuminate; stamens 6; anthers ½1/2 to equal filament length. |
Capsules | exserted, chestnut to dark brown, imperfectly 3-locular, obconic, 2.4–3.8 mm, apex acute proximal to beak, valves separating at dehiscence. |
slightly exserted, chestnut to dark brown, 1-locular, ellipsoid, 2.4–3.8 mm, apex acuminate, not beaked. |
Seeds | ellipsoid to fusiform, 0.8–1.2 mm, tailed; body covered with whitish translucent veil. |
elliptic to obovate, 0.4–0.6 mm, not tailed. |
2n | = 80. |
= 40. |
Juncus brachycephalus |
Juncus xiphioides |
|
Phenology | Fruiting summer–early fall. | Fruiting early summer–fall. |
Habitat | Calcareous marshes, wet meadows, and wetland shores | Salt marshes, moist areas, ditches, springs, lake and stream shores |
Elevation | 100–200 m (300–700 ft) | 500–1600 m (1600–5200 ft) |
Distribution |
AL; CO; CT; GA; IL; IN; MA; ME; MI; MN; NC; ND; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OK; PA; TN; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NS; ON; QC;
|
AZ; CA; NM; NV; UT; Mexico (Baja California)
|
Discussion | This species and the next (Juncus ensifolius) are closely related and have been treated as members of a single species (J. xiphioides) by Engelmann. Until a study of the complete subgenus is done, we are hesitant to use a varietal name (J. xiphioides var. triandrus) for the widespread western taxon J. ensifolius. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 22. | FNA vol. 22. |
Parent taxa | Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Septati | Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Ensifolii |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | J. canadensis var. brachycephalus | J. xiphioides var. auratus, J. xiphioides var. littoralis |
Name authority | (Engelmann) Buchenau: Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 12: 268. (1890) | E. Meyer: Synopsis Juncorum 50. (1822) |
Web links |