TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

JUNCACEAE

RUSH FAMILY

Janice Coffey Swab

Annual, perennial herb, generally from rhizomes
Stem round or flat
Leaves generally mostly basal; sheath margins fused, or overlapping and generally with 2 ear-like extensions at blade junction; blade round, flat, or vestigial, glabrous or margin hairy
Inflorescence: head-like clusters or single flowers, variously arranged; bracts subtending inflorescence 2, generally leaf-like; bracts subtending inflorescence branches 1–2, reduced; bractlets subtending flowers generally 1–2, generally translucent
Flower generally bisexual, radial; sepals and petals similar, persistent, green to brown or purplish black; stamens generally 3 or 6, anthers linear, persistent; pistil 1, ovary superior, chambers generally 1 or 3, placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal, stigmas generally > style
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seeds 3–many, often with white appendages on 1 or both ends
Genera in family: 9 genera, 325 species: temp, arctic, tropical mtns. Fls late spring to early fall.

JUNCUS

RUSH

Annual, perennial herb; rhizome (if any) generally with scale-like leaves
Stem generally cylindric or flat
Leaf: blade well developed and cylindric or flat, or reduced to small point; crosswalls often present (pull fresh blade apart lengthwise to see or slide leaf between fingers to feel); appendages often present at blade-sheath junction
Inflorescence generally terminal (appearing lateral when pushed aside by lowest inflorescence bract); bractlets 0–2
Flowers: stamens generally 3 or 6 (2 in some very small annual taxa); pistil 1, ovary chambers 1 or 3, placentas axile or parietal, stigmas generally 3(2)
Seeds many
Species in genus: 225 species: worldwide, especially n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: to join or bind, from use of stems)
Reference: [Ertter 1986 Mem NY Bot Gard 39:1–90]

Native

J. phaeocephalus Engelm.

Perennial 10–50 cm; rhizome stout, creeping
Stem flat
Leaf: bases overlapping; sheath appendages indistinct; blade flat, with edge toward stem, often > stem, 1.5–4 mm wide, crosswalls generally incomplete, tip fine-pointed
Inflorescence: lowest bract slightly > lowest cluster; clusters 1–many, few–many-flowered
Flower: perianth segments 4–5 mm, ± equal, widely lanceolate, dark brown; stamens 6, filaments << conspicuous anthers; stigmas long-exserted
Fruit < to = perianth; beak long-tapered
Seed 0.6 mm, ovoid
Ecology: Moist places
Elevation: < 2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, n High Sierra Nevada, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, n Channel Islands, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges.

Native

var. phaeocephalus

Stems separated along rhizome
Inflorescence: clusters 1–10, 10–15 mm wide, many-flowered
Ecology: Coastal meadows and borders of marshes
Elevation: generally < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, n Channel Islands
Horticultural information: IRR: 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; INV, also STBL.