TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
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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. covillei Piper

Perennial, cespitose, 5–25 cm; rhizome creeping, heavy
Leaves mostly basal; sheath appendages 0; blade with flat side toward stem, often = inflorescence, 2–4 mm wide; cauline leaves 0–2
Inflorescence: lowest bract < to > inflorescence; branches 1–5; clusters 10–15, 3–7-flowered
Flower: perianth segments 2–3.5 mm (sepals > petals), middle papillate, brown or green; stamens 6, filaments slightly < anthers
Fruit > perianth, widely cylindric, dark; tip ± notched, short-beaked
Seed 0.4 mm; appendages minute
Chromosomes: 2n=38
Ecology: Moist places, especially in forests
Elevation: < 3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho

Native

var. covillei

Flower: perianth dark brown; petals rounded
Fruit obviously > perianth, dark brown
Ecology: Sandy places, streamsides
Elevation: generally < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Horticultural information: STBL.