Rushes - natives and introduced (Juncus species)

Joint-leaf Rush (Juncus holoschoenus) Culms erect. Flower clusters 7-14mm wide, Flowers brown.

Small-flower Rush (*Juncus pallescens) Culms erect, flower clusters 5-8mm wide, brown to black.

Jointed Rush (*Juncus articularis ssp articularis) A sprawling rush. Flower clusters 5-9mm wide.

Broad-leaf Rush (Juncus planifolius) Rushes with flat leaves. Leaves tufted at the base.

Capitate Rush (*Juncus capitatus) Leaves along stem. Diminutive rush often 5cm high or less.

Wiry Rush (Juncus homalocaulis) One or a few flowering stems. Flowers have a spiky appearance

Toad Rush (Juncus bufonius) Rushes with numerous flowering stems, forming tufts. Widespread.

Leaves sharp pointed or leaves not sharp and pointed and stems with continuous pith

Sharp Rush (*Juncus acutus) The sharp-pointed leaves will pierce skin. Flowers are dark coloured.

Thread Rush (Juncus filicaulis). Culms narrow (c1mm), flowers in globular clusters, petals/sepals with red bands. Pith continuous or with small air spaces.

Clustered Rush (Juncus vaginatus) Culm medium width (c2-3mm), under surface of seed cases with small red flecks. Flowers in globular clusters.

Hoary Rush (Juncus radula) Culm narrow to medium. Flowers not in globular clusters. Upper culm and flower branches rough (like fine sandpaper.)

Pale Rush (Juncus pallidus) Culm stout (5mm or more wide). Flowers spreading. Stems dull green to blue green.

Stems with large or small air spaces

Juncus semisolidus Stout stems (c5mm wide or more), pith mostly solid but air spaces in upper culm.

Juncus procerus Culms green, broad. Pith sparse, with large air spaces. Culm easily squashed.

Few-flowered Rush (Juncus pauciflorus) Culms very narrow (c 1mm), flexible. Flowers widely spaced. Southern areas.

Thread Rush (Juncus filicaulis) Culms narrow (c1mm), flowers in globular clusters, petals/sepals with red bands. Pith continuous or with small air spaces.

Remote-flowered Rush (Juncus remotiflorus) Culms medium width (c2-3mm wide). Flowers widely separated. Widespread.

Yellow Rush (Juncus flavidus) Culm striations crowded and hard to detect above the basal leaves.

Common Rush (Juncus amabilis) Medium sized rush. Pith with many air spaces, stems easlily compressed. V. commom.

Pin Rush (Juncus usitatus) Stems dull, petals and sepals very short(c 2mm).

Juncus gregiflorus Stems shiny green, wiry, rather narrow (c2mm), Culm striations c40, strongly raised.

Southern Rush (Juncus australis) Stems green, wiry, rather narrow (c2mm), Culm striations c40, strongly raised.

Finger Rush (Juncus subsecundus) Stems not easily compressed, striations c20, strongly raised. Flowers widely spaced or not. Common.

Broom Rush (Juncus sarophorus) Dense broom-like flower sprays. Culm striations strongly raised.