Juncaceae

Juncus acutus

Common Names: Spiny rush

Plant Form: Tussock-forming perennial rush. Size: Up to 2 m tall. Stem: Continuous, dense, uninterrupted pith. Are also leaves. Leaves: Long and narrow in grouping of 2-5 from stem (which is also leaf) giving plant a hemisphere-like shape. Flowers: In dense clusters 4-13 cm long. 1-6 flowers per cluster, 5-50 clusters per flowerhead. Greenish or reddish brown. Fruit and Seeds: Brownish capsule, darker in upper surfaces, 4-6 mm long, oval to egg shaped, with pointed tip. Each contains many seeds. Habitat: Roadsides, gullies, pastures, riparian areas. Distinguishing Features: Generally with more pointed stems and leaves than other Juncus species, and typically forms a tighter, more hemisphere-shaped tussock. Impacts: Replaces native vegetation, forms barrier to waterways with spiky leaf tips, harbours pests. Spiky leaf tips can injure.