FNA: Juncus effusus vs. Juncus macrophyllus

	Juncus effusus	Juncus macrophyllus
	common bog rush, common rush, common soft rush, pasture rush, soft or lamp rush, soft rush	long-leaf rush, rush
Habit	Herbs, perennial, 4–13 dm.	Herbs, perennial, tufted, 2–10 dm.
Rhizomes	short -branched, forming distinct, often large clumps.	poorly developed.
Culms	erect, terete, 1–2.5 mm diam. at top of sheaths.	erect, nearly terete to slightly compressed, never rooting at nodes.
Cataphylls	several.
Leaves	blade absent.	basal several, cauline 1–3; auricles rounded, 1–3 mm, apex acutish, membranous; blade pale green, basal blade striate, channeled, basal 1/2–1 times length of culm; cauline 8–15 cm × 1–3 mm.
Inflorescences	lateral, compound dichasia, many flowered; primary bract erect, terete, extending well beyond dichasium.	glomerules, 8–25, each with 3–5 flowers, open; primary bract much shorter than inflorescence.
Flowers	tepals tan or darker, usually with greenish midstripe, lanceolate, 1.9–3.5 mm; inner slightly shorter; stamens 3, filaments 0.5–0.8 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm; style 0.2 mm.	tepals greenish with reddish or brown tinge, lanceolate, 5–6 mm, outer series shorter; stamens 6, filaments 0.5–1 mm, anthers 1.8–2.6 mm; style 0.5–1 mm.
Capsules	greenish tan or darker, 3-locular, broadly ellipsoid to oblate, 1.5–3.2 mm.	tan, 3-locular, obovoid, 3–4.5 mm, shorter than perianth.
Seeds	amber, (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm.	ovoid, 0.6 mm, not tailed.
2n	= 40, 42.

	Juncus effusus	Juncus macrophyllus
Phenology	Flowering summer, fruiting summer–fall.	Flowering and fruiting summer.
Habitat	Swamps and their edges, marshes, moist meadows, and moist or saturated soils, often conspicuous in pasture meadows where it is shunned by grazing animals	Wet banks and meadows in chaparral and low mountains
Elevation	Habitat??; 0–2500 m [Habitat??; 0–8200 ft]	700–2600 m [2300–8500 ft]
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; NE; NH; NJ; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WV; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	AZ; CA; NV [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	The Juncus effusus complex has been variously recognized as containing several species or a single species with numerous infraspecific taxa. Unfortunately, North American treatments have dealt primarily with taxa in either the eastern or western portions of the continent. In considering the continent as a whole, little sense can be made of these treatments. The North American J. effusus complex is one that is in obvious need of modern systematic scrutiny. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Parent taxa	Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Genuini	Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Graminifolii
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. 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. dichotomus, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, 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. 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. 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. conglomeratus, J. effusus var. brunneus, J. effusus var. caeruleomontanus, J. effusus var. costulatus, J. effusus var. dicipiens, J. effusus var. exiguus, J. effusus var. gracilis, J. effusus var. pylaei, J. effusus var. solutus, J. effusus var. subglomeratus, J. griscomii	J. canaliculatus, J. longistylis var. scabratus
Name authority	Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 326. (1753)	Coville: University of California Publications in Botany 1: 65. (1902)
Source	FNA vol. 22. Treatment authors: Ralph E. Brooks, Steven E. Clemants.	FNA vol. 22. Treatment authors: Ralph E. Brooks, Steven E. Clemants.
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 WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Juncus macrophyllus

common bog rush, common rush, common soft rush, pasture rush, soft or lamp rush, soft rush

long-leaf rush, rush

Habit

Herbs, perennial, 4–13 dm.

Herbs, perennial, tufted, 2–10 dm.

Rhizomes

short -branched, forming distinct, often large clumps.

poorly developed.

Culms

erect, terete, 1–2.5 mm diam. at top of sheaths.

erect, nearly terete to slightly compressed, never rooting at nodes.

Cataphylls

several.

Leaves

blade absent.

basal several, cauline 1–3;

auricles rounded, 1–3 mm, apex acutish, membranous;

blade pale green, basal blade striate, channeled, basal 1/2–1 times length of culm;

cauline 8–15 cm × 1–3 mm.

Inflorescences

lateral, compound dichasia, many flowered;

primary bract erect, terete, extending well beyond dichasium.

glomerules, 8–25, each with 3–5 flowers, open;

primary bract much shorter than inflorescence.

Flowers

tepals tan or darker, usually with greenish midstripe, lanceolate, 1.9–3.5 mm;

inner slightly shorter;

stamens 3, filaments 0.5–0.8 mm, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm;

style 0.2 mm.

tepals greenish with reddish or brown tinge, lanceolate, 5–6 mm, outer series shorter;

stamens 6, filaments 0.5–1 mm, anthers 1.8–2.6 mm;

style 0.5–1 mm.

Capsules

greenish tan or darker, 3-locular, broadly ellipsoid to oblate, 1.5–3.2 mm.

tan, 3-locular, obovoid, 3–4.5 mm, shorter than perianth.

Seeds

amber, (0.3–)0.4–0.5 mm.

ovoid, 0.6 mm, not tailed.

= 40, 42.

Juncus macrophyllus

Phenology

Flowering summer, fruiting summer–fall.

Flowering and fruiting summer.

Habitat

Swamps and their edges, marshes, moist meadows, and moist or saturated soils, often conspicuous in pasture meadows where it is shunned by grazing animals

Wet banks and meadows in chaparral and low mountains

Elevation

Habitat??; 0–2500 m [Habitat??; 0–8200 ft]

700–2600 m [2300–8500 ft]

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; NE; NH; NJ; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WV; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

AZ; CA; NV

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

The Juncus effusus complex has been variously recognized as containing several species or a single species with numerous infraspecific taxa. Unfortunately, North American treatments have dealt primarily with taxa in either the eastern or western portions of the continent. In considering the continent as a whole, little sense can be made of these treatments. The North American J. effusus complex is one that is in obvious need of modern systematic scrutiny.

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

Parent taxa

Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Genuini

Juncaceae > Juncus > subg. Graminifolii

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. 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. dichotomus, J. diffusissimus, J. drummondii, J. dubius, J. dudleyi, 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. 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. 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. conglomeratus, J. effusus var. brunneus, J. effusus var. caeruleomontanus, J. effusus var. costulatus, J. effusus var. dicipiens, J. effusus var. exiguus, J. effusus var. gracilis, J. effusus var. pylaei, J. effusus var. solutus, J. effusus var. subglomeratus, J. griscomii

J. canaliculatus, J. longistylis var. scabratus

Name authority

Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 326. (1753)

Coville: University of California Publications in Botany 1: 65. (1902)

Source

FNA vol. 22. Treatment authors: Ralph E. Brooks*, Steven E. Clemants*.

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

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).

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