Juncus is a genus in the plant family Juncaceae. It consists of some 200[1] to 300 or more[2] species of grassy plants commonly called rushes. They occur in all sorts of wetlands regions all over the world, but more rarely in the tropics.
Characteristics [edit]
Closeup of
Juncus monanthos flowers
Juncus rushes are characterized by their nude leaves, which are either thin and more or less flattened or round and containing spongy pith. They grow as tussocks or more isolated stalks, bearing inflorescences near the tip. Many species are exceptionally hardy and some are considered weeds in gardening; a few are invasive weeds of significance. On the other hand, there is some use of rushes as ornamental plants, e.g. at garden ponds; more generally their tolerance of extreme environmental conditions (except drought) means that some species or another is likely suitable for ornamental purposes even where few other plants grow. Additionally, Juncus species are used as food plants by the larvae of certain Lepidoptera species.
Historically and in some regions still today, there is artisanal use of the leaves. Probably most widely known is the Soft Rush (Juncus effusus), called igusa in Japanese and used to weave the soft surface cover of tatami mats.
Selected species [edit]
Species of Juncus include:[3]
- Juncus abortivus Chapman – Annual Rush
- Juncus acuminatus – Tapertip Rush, Tufted Rush, Sharp-fruited Rush
- Juncus acutiflorus – Sharp-flowered Rush
- Juncus acutus – Sharp Rush, Spiny Rush, Sharp-pointed Rush
- Juncus albescens (Lange) Fernald – Northern White Rush
- Juncus ×alpiniformis
- Juncus alpinoarticulatus Chaix – Northern Green Rush, Alpine Rush
- Juncus ambiguus Guss. – Seaside Rush, Doubtful Toad-rush
- Juncus anthelatus (Wiegand) R.E.Brooks – Greater Poverty Rush
- Juncus arcticus Willd. – Arctic Rush, Wire Rush (may include J. balticus and/or J. mexicanus)
- Juncus articulatus – Jointleaf Rush, "jointed rush"
- Juncus balticus – Baltic Rush (may belong in J. arcticus)
- Juncus biflorus Ell. – Bog Rush
- Juncus biglumis L. – Two-flowered Rush
- Juncus bolanderi – Bolander's Rush
- Juncus brachycarpus Engelm. – Whiteroot Rush
- Juncus brachycephalus (Engelm.) Buch. – Small-headed Rush
- Juncus brachyphyllus Wieg. – Tuftedstem Rush
- Juncus brevicaudatus (Engelm.) Fern. – Narrow-panicle Rush, Short-tailed Rush
- Juncus breweri – Brewer's Rush
- Juncus bryoides – Moss Rush, Mosslike Dwarf Rush
- Juncus bufonius – Toad Rush
- Juncus bulbosus L. – Bulbous Rush
- Juncus caesariensis Coville – New Jersey Rush
- Juncus canadensis J.Gay ex Laharpe – Canadian Rush
- Juncus capillaris F.J.Herm. – Hairystem Dwarf Rush
- Juncus capitatus – Leafybract Dwarf Rush
- Juncus castaneus Sm. – Chestnut Rush
- Juncus chlorocephalus Engelm. – Greenhead Rush
- Juncus compressus Jacq. – Round-fruited Rush
- Juncus confusus – Colorado Rush
- Juncus conglomeratus – Compact Rush
- Juncus cooperi – Cooper's Rush
- Juncus coriaceus Mackenzie – Leathery Rush
- Juncus covillei – Coville's Rush
- Juncus cyperoides Laharpe – Forbestown Rush
- Juncus debilis Gray – Weak Rush
- Juncus dichotomus Ell. – Forked Rush
- Juncus digitatus – Finger Rush
- Juncus diffusissimus Buckl. – Slimpod Rush
- Juncus drummondii – Drummond's Rush
- Juncus dubius Engelm. – Dubious Rush, Questionable Rush
- Juncus dudleyi Wieg. – Dudley's Rush
- Juncus duranii – Duran's Rush
- Juncus effusus – Common Rush, Soft Rush (may include J. pylaei)
- Juncus elliottii Chapman – Elliott's Rush
- Juncus ensifolius – Swordleaf Rush
- Juncus falcatus E.Mey. – Falcate Rush
- Juncus filiformis L. – Thread Rush
- Juncus filipendulus Buckl. – Ringseed Rush
- Juncus georgianus Coville – Georgia Rush
- Juncus gerardii – Saltmarsh Rush, Blackneedle Rush, Blackgrass
- Juncus glomeratus Batson – Clustered Rush
- Juncus greenei Oakes & Tuckerman – Greene's Rush
- Juncus gymnocarpus Coville – Pennsylvania Rush
- Juncus haenkei E.Mey. – Haenke's Rush
- Juncus hallii Engelm. – Hall's Rush
- Juncus hemiendytus – Herman's Dwarf Rush
- Juncus howellii – Howell's Rush
- Juncus inflexus L. – Hard Rush, European Meadow Rush
- Juncus interior – Inland Rush, "soft rush"
- Juncus jacquinii L. – Jacquin's Rush
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- Juncus kelloggii – Kellogg's Dwarf Rush
- Juncus kraussii – Jointed Rush
- Juncus leiospermus – Red Bluff Dwarf Rush
- Juncus lesueurii – Lesueur's Rush, Salt Rush
- Juncus longii Fern. – Long's Rush
- Juncus longistylis – Longstyle Rush
- Juncus luciensis Ertter – Santa Lucia Dwarf Rush
- Juncus macrandrus Coville – Longanther Rush
- Juncus macrophyllus – Longleaf Rush
- Juncus marginatus Rostk. – Grassleaf Rush
- Juncus maritimus – Sea Rush
- Juncus megacephalus M.A.Curtis – Bighead Rush
- Juncus mertensianus – Mertens' Rush
- Juncus mexicanus – Mexican Rush (may belong in J. arcticus or J. balticus)
- Juncus militaris Bigel. – Bayonet Rush
- Juncus monanthos Jacq. (may belong in J. trifidus)
- Juncus nevadensis – Sierra Rush
- Juncus nodatus Coville – Stout Rush
- Juncus nodosus – Knotted Rush
- Juncus occidentalis – Western Rush
- Juncus orthophyllus – Straightleaf Rush
- Juncus oxymeris Engelm. – Pointed Rush
- Juncus pallidus – Pale Rush
- Juncus parryi – Parry's Rush
- Juncus patens – Spreading Rush
- Juncus pelocarpus E.Mey. – Brownfruit Rush, Mud Rush
- Juncus pervetus Fernald – Barnstable Rush (possibly extinct)
- Juncus phaeocephalus Engelm. – Brownhead Rush
- Juncus planifolius R.Br. – Broadleaf Rush
- Juncus polyanthemos Buch. – Manyflower Rush
- Juncus polycephalus Michx. – Manyhead Rush
- Juncus punctorius L.f. – Prickly Rush
- Juncus pylaei Laharpe – Pylaeie's Rush[verification needed] (sometimes in J. effusus)
- Juncus ranarius Songeon & E.P.Perrier – Frog Rush
- Juncus regelii – Regel's Rush
- Juncus repens Michx. – Lesser Creeping Rush
- Juncus roemerianus Scheele – Needlegrass Rush
- Juncus rugulosus – Wrinkled Rush
- Juncus saximontanus – Rocky Mountain Rush
- Juncus scheuchzerioides – Short Rush, Greater Rush
- Juncus scirpoides Lam. – Needlepod Rush
- Juncus secundus Beauv. ex Poir. – Lopsided Rush
- Juncus spiralis syn. Juncus effusus f. spiralis – Corkscrew Rush
- Juncus squarrosus L. – Heath Rush, Mosquito Rush
- Juncus stygius L. – Moor Rush
- Juncus subcaudatus (Engelm.) Coville & Blake – Woodland Rush
- Juncus subnodulosus – Blunt-flowered Rush
- Juncus subtilis E.Mey. – Greater Creeping Rush
- Juncus supiniformis Engelm. – Hairyleaf Rush
- Juncus tenageia Ehrh. ex L.f. – Sand Rush
- Juncus tenuis – Slender Rush, Path Rush, Field Rush, Slender Yard Rush, "wiregrass"
- Juncus texanus (Engelm.) Coville – Texas Rush
- Juncus textilis – Basket Rush
- Juncus tiehmii – Nevada Rush
- Juncus torreyi – Torrey's Rush
- Juncus tracyi Rydb. – Tracy's Rush
- Juncus trifidus L. – Highland Rush (may include J. monanthos)
- Juncus triformis – Yosemite Dwarf Rush, Long-styled Dwarf Rush
- Juncus triglumis L. – Three-hulled Rush
- Juncus trigonocarpus Steud. – Redpod Rush
- Juncus tweedyi Rydb. – Tweedy's Rush
- Juncus uncialis – Twelfth Rush, Inch-high Rush
- Juncus validus Coville – Roundhead Rush
- Juncus vaseyi Engelm. – Vasey's Rush
- Juncus xiphioides – Irisleaf Rush
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- ^ Swab (1993)
- ^ Brooks & Clemants (2000)
- ^ USDA [2011]
References [edit]
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