FNA: Juncus bufonius vs. Juncus dichotomus

	Juncus bufonius	Juncus dichotomus
	common toad rush, toad rush	dichotomous rush, fork rush
Habit	Herbs, annual, cespitose, 0.5–4 dm.	Herbs, perennial, to 10 dm.
Rhizomes		densely branched to short- creeping.
Culms	1–many, occasionally becoming decumbent.
Cataphylls	0–2.	1–3.
Leaves	basal and cauline; auricles rudimentary or absent; blade flat, 3–13 cm × 0.3–1.1 mm.	basal, (1-)2-3; auricles 0.2-0.5(-0.6) mm, scarious to leathery; blade nearly terete, channeled or flat, 10-25(-40) cm × (0.5-)0.7-1(-1.2) mm, margins entire.
Inflorescences	loose and diffuse or less often compact, usually at least ½1/2 total height of plant; primary bract shorter than inflorescence.	terminal, (5–)10–85(–100)-flowered, congested to somewhat loose, (1-)2.5-10(-13) cm; primary bract usually exceeding inflorescence.
Flowers	bracteoles 2; tepals greenish, lanceolate, 3.8–7(–8.5) mm; inner series slightly shorter, apex sometimes obtuse; stamens 3–6, filaments (0.7–)1–1.8 mm, anthers 0.3–0.8 mm; style 0.1–0.2 mm.	bracteoles 2; tepals green, lanceolate, (3-)3.3-4.5(-5.5) mm; outer and inner series nearly equal; stamens 6, filaments 0.6–1.2 mm, anthers 0.4-0.8(-1) mm; style 0.2 mm.
Capsules	tan to reddish brown, 3-locular, ellipsoid to narrowly so, slightly truncate, 2.7–4 × 1–1.5 mm, sometimes exceeding inner tepals but usually not outer series.	tan to brown, 1-locular to pseudo-3-locular, ellipsoid to widely so, (2.5-)2.8-3.5(-4.5) × 1x 1.6-2.2 mm.
Seeds	yellowish, widely ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.26–0.49, not tailed.	brownish to amber, ellipsoid to lunate, 0.3-0.4 mm, not tailed.
2n	= 27–37, 58–81, 108–115.	= ca. 80.

	Juncus bufonius	Juncus dichotomus
Phenology	Flowering and fruiting spring–early fall.	Flowering and fruiting late spring–summer.
Habitat	Moist soils in meadows, along lakeshores or stream banks, ditches, or roadsides, especially frequent in drawdown areas, usually in open sites and often becoming weedy	Ditches, shores, clearings, and other typically open areas, usually in sandy, well-drained (but frequently wet) soil
Distribution	AK; AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Greenland; nearly worldwide [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	AL; AR; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; KY; LA; MA; MD; MS; NC; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; SC; TN; VA; WV; Mexico; Central America; South America; Texas [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Nearly worldwide, Juncus bufonius is found essentially throughout North America except north of the Alaskan and Canadian tTaiga. Juncus bufonius is a highly polymorphic complex that is poorly understood systematically. Insufficient evidence exists upon which to base the segregation of the plethora of taxa that have been recognized out of this group in the past. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source	FNA vol. 22.	FNA vol. 22.
Parent taxa	Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Poiophylli	Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Poiophylli
Sibling taxa	J. acuminatus, J. acutiflorus, J. acutus, J. alpinoarticulatus, J. anthelatus, J. arcticus, J. articulatus, J. biglumis, J. bolanderi, J. brachycarpus, J. brachycephalus, J. brachyphyllus, J. brevicaudatus, J. bryoides, J. bulbosus, J. caesariensis, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. castaneus, J. chlorocephalus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. cooperi, J. coriaceus, J. covillei, J. debilis, J. dichotomus, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, J. effusus, J. elliottii, J. ensifolius, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. filipendulus, J. georgianus, J. gerardii, J. greenei, J. gymnocarpus, J. hallii, J. hemiendytus, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. leiospermus, J. lesueurii, J. longistylis, J. luciensis, J. macrandrus, J. macrophyllus, J. marginatus, J. maritimus, J. megacephalus, J. mertensianus, J. militaris, J. nevadensis, J. nodatus, J. nodosus, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. pervetus, J. phaeocephalus, J. polycephalus, J. regelii, J. repens, J. roemerianus, J. scirpoides, J. secundus, J. squarrosus, J. stygius, J. subcaudatus, J. subtilis, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. texanus, J. textilis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. trifidus, J. triformis, J. triglumis, J. trigonocarpus, J. uncialis, J. validus, J. vaseyi, J. xiphioides	J. acuminatus, J. acutiflorus, J. acutus, J. alpinoarticulatus, J. anthelatus, J. arcticus, J. articulatus, J. biglumis, J. bolanderi, J. brachycarpus, J. brachycephalus, J. brachyphyllus, J. brevicaudatus, J. bryoides, J. bufonius, J. bulbosus, J. caesariensis, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. castaneus, J. chlorocephalus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. cooperi, J. coriaceus, J. covillei, J. debilis, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, J. effusus, J. elliottii, J. ensifolius, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. filipendulus, J. georgianus, J. gerardii, J. greenei, J. gymnocarpus, J. hallii, J. hemiendytus, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. leiospermus, J. lesueurii, J. longistylis, J. luciensis, J. macrandrus, J. macrophyllus, J. marginatus, J. maritimus, J. megacephalus, J. mertensianus, J. militaris, J. nevadensis, J. nodatus, J. nodosus, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. pervetus, J. phaeocephalus, J. polycephalus, J. regelii, J. repens, J. roemerianus, J. scirpoides, J. secundus, J. squarrosus, J. stygius, J. subcaudatus, J. subtilis, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. texanus, J. textilis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. trifidus, J. triformis, J. triglumis, J. trigonocarpus, J. uncialis, J. validus, J. vaseyi, J. xiphioides
Synonyms	J. bufonius var. congestus, J. bufonius var. halophilus, J. bufonius var. hybridus, J. bufonius var. occidentalis, J. bufonius var. ranarius, J. congestus, J. ranarius	J. dichotomus var. platyphyllus, J. tenuis var. dichotomus, J. tenuis var. platyphyllus, J. platyphyllus
Name authority	Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 328. (1753)	Elliott
Web links	Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, Go Botany, IL Wildflowers, KS Wildflowers, LA Plants, MD Biodiversity, MI Flora, MN Wildflowers, MO Plants, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local floras: CA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Go Botany, LA Plants, MD Biodiversity WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Juncus dichotomus

common toad rush, toad rush

dichotomous rush, fork rush

Habit

Herbs, annual, cespitose, 0.5–4 dm.

Herbs, perennial, to 10 dm.

Rhizomes

densely branched to short- creeping.

Culms

1–many, occasionally becoming decumbent.

Cataphylls

0–2.

1–3.

Leaves

basal and cauline;

auricles rudimentary or absent;

blade flat, 3–13 cm × 0.3–1.1 mm.

basal, (1-)2-3;

auricles 0.2-0.5(-0.6) mm, scarious to leathery;

blade nearly terete, channeled or flat, 10-25(-40) cm × (0.5-)0.7-1(-1.2) mm, margins entire.

Inflorescences

loose and diffuse or less often compact, usually at least ½1/2 total height of plant;

primary bract shorter than inflorescence.

terminal, (5–)10–85(–100)-flowered, congested to somewhat loose, (1-)2.5-10(-13) cm;

primary bract usually exceeding inflorescence.

Flowers

bracteoles 2;

tepals greenish, lanceolate, 3.8–7(–8.5) mm;

inner series slightly shorter, apex sometimes obtuse;

stamens 3–6, filaments (0.7–)1–1.8 mm, anthers 0.3–0.8 mm;

style 0.1–0.2 mm.

bracteoles 2;

tepals green, lanceolate, (3-)3.3-4.5(-5.5) mm;

outer and inner series nearly equal;

stamens 6, filaments 0.6–1.2 mm, anthers 0.4-0.8(-1) mm;

style 0.2 mm.

Capsules

tan to reddish brown, 3-locular, ellipsoid to narrowly so, slightly truncate, 2.7–4 × 1–1.5 mm, sometimes exceeding inner tepals but usually not outer series.

tan to brown, 1-locular to pseudo-3-locular, ellipsoid to widely so, (2.5-)2.8-3.5(-4.5) × 1x 1.6-2.2 mm.

Seeds

yellowish, widely ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.26–0.49, not tailed.

brownish to amber, ellipsoid to lunate, 0.3-0.4 mm, not tailed.

= 27–37, 58–81, 108–115.

= ca. 80.

Juncus dichotomus

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting spring–early fall.

Flowering and fruiting late spring–summer.

Habitat

Moist soils in meadows, along lakeshores or stream banks, ditches, or roadsides, especially frequent in drawdown areas, usually in open sites and often becoming weedy

Ditches, shores, clearings, and other typically open areas, usually in sandy, well-drained (but frequently wet) soil

Distribution

AK; AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Greenland; nearly worldwide

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

AL; AR; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; KY; LA; MA; MD; MS; NC; NJ; NY; OH; PA; RI; SC; TN; VA; WV; Mexico; Central America; South America; Texas

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Nearly worldwide, Juncus bufonius is found essentially throughout North America except north of the Alaskan and Canadian tTaiga. Juncus bufonius is a highly polymorphic complex that is poorly understood systematically. Insufficient evidence exists upon which to base the segregation of the plethora of taxa that have been recognized out of this group in the past.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source

FNA vol. 22.

Parent taxa

Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Poiophylli

Sibling taxa

J. acuminatus, J. acutiflorus, J. acutus, J. alpinoarticulatus, J. anthelatus, J. arcticus, J. articulatus, J. biglumis, J. bolanderi, J. brachycarpus, J. brachycephalus, J. brachyphyllus, J. brevicaudatus, J. bryoides, J. bulbosus, J. caesariensis, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. castaneus, J. chlorocephalus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. cooperi, J. coriaceus, J. covillei, J. debilis, J. dichotomus, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, J. effusus, J. elliottii, J. ensifolius, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. filipendulus, J. georgianus, J. gerardii, J. greenei, J. gymnocarpus, J. hallii, J. hemiendytus, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. leiospermus, J. lesueurii, J. longistylis, J. luciensis, J. macrandrus, J. macrophyllus, J. marginatus, J. maritimus, J. megacephalus, J. mertensianus, J. militaris, J. nevadensis, J. nodatus, J. nodosus, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. pervetus, J. phaeocephalus, J. polycephalus, J. regelii, J. repens, J. roemerianus, J. scirpoides, J. secundus, J. squarrosus, J. stygius, J. subcaudatus, J. subtilis, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. texanus, J. textilis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. trifidus, J. triformis, J. triglumis, J. trigonocarpus, J. uncialis, J. validus, J. vaseyi, J. xiphioides

J. acuminatus, J. acutiflorus, J. acutus, J. alpinoarticulatus, J. anthelatus, J. arcticus, J. articulatus, J. biglumis, J. bolanderi, J. brachycarpus, J. brachycephalus, J. brachyphyllus, J. brevicaudatus, J. bryoides, J. bufonius, J. bulbosus, J. caesariensis, J. canadensis, J. capillaris, J. capitatus, J. castaneus, J. chlorocephalus, J. compressus, J. confusus, J. cooperi, J. coriaceus, J. covillei, J. debilis, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, J. effusus, J. elliottii, J. ensifolius, J. falcatus, J. filiformis, J. filipendulus, J. georgianus, J. gerardii, J. greenei, J. gymnocarpus, J. hallii, J. hemiendytus, J. howellii, J. inflexus, J. interior, J. kelloggii, J. leiospermus, J. lesueurii, J. longistylis, J. luciensis, J. macrandrus, J. macrophyllus, J. marginatus, J. maritimus, J. megacephalus, J. mertensianus, J. militaris, J. nevadensis, J. nodatus, J. nodosus, J. occidentalis, J. orthophyllus, J. oxymeris, J. parryi, J. patens, J. pelocarpus, J. pervetus, J. phaeocephalus, J. polycephalus, J. regelii, J. repens, J. roemerianus, J. scirpoides, J. secundus, J. squarrosus, J. stygius, J. subcaudatus, J. subtilis, J. supiniformis, J. tenuis, J. texanus, J. textilis, J. tiehmii, J. torreyi, J. trifidus, J. triformis, J. triglumis, J. trigonocarpus, J. uncialis, J. validus, J. vaseyi, J. xiphioides

Synonyms

J. bufonius var. congestus, J. bufonius var. halophilus, J. bufonius var. hybridus, J. bufonius var. occidentalis, J. bufonius var. ranarius, J. congestus, J. ranarius

J. dichotomus var. platyphyllus, J. tenuis var. dichotomus, J. tenuis var. platyphyllus, J. platyphyllus

Name authority

Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 328. (1753)

Elliott

Web links

Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA
Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, Go Botany, IL Wildflowers, KS Wildflowers, LA Plants, MD Biodiversity, MI Flora, MN Wildflowers, MO Plants, PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database
LBJ Wildflower Center
SEINet
Plants of the World Online
Encyclopedia of Life
Wikipedia
Google Image Search

Local floras: CA
Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Go Botany, LA Plants, MD Biodiversity
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database
LBJ Wildflower Center
SEINet
Plants of the World Online
Encyclopedia of Life
Wikipedia
Google Image Search

Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, OregonFlora, UW Burke Herbarium

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Juncus bufonius

Juncus dichotomus

Juncus bufonius

Juncus dichotomus