Juncaceae . . . . . Rushes

Choose leaf form:

(a) Rushes- lvs usually stem-like/tubular, hairless

(b) Woodrushes - lvs flat with fine long hairs on edges

But see also other possibilities for apparently tubular leaves/stems:

Club-rushes

Rannoch Rush

Trailing chlorophyll-free stems (Dodder)

Other tubular or rolled

Juncus . . . . True Rushes

True rushes -choose from:-

Flowers clustered on side of main stem

Spreading panicles of flowers

Low or fine sprawling plants

Fls in heads/clusters at top

Round stem sedges

Other round stems

Heads apparently clustered to side of stem - often compact:

J. acutus

J. balticus

J. conglomeratus

J. effusus

J. inflexus

J. maritimus

More open panicles - near end of stem

Sprawling, or low Rushes

J. trifidus

J. triglumis

Littorella, etc.

Flowers in dense single heads (1st 3 are alpine spp.)

But see also:

J. bulbosus

Eleogiton (Cyperaceae)

Juncus . . . . True Rushes

Juncus acutiflorus . . . . Sharp-flowered Rush

Fruit with long tapered point; rounded, not flattened leaves; tepal tips sharp and recurved

Juncus acutus . . . . Sharp Rush

A very hard and sharp (beware!!) tip; very local on drier saltmarshes (CI to Norfolk)

Juncus articulatus . . . . Jointed Rush

Slightly flattened leaves with distinct transverse septa (felt if you pull a leaf between finger and thumb); outer tepals not curved outwards (recurved)

A similar plant of mountains, with rounded tepals in C & S Sc & N En is J. alpinoarticulatus

Juncus balticus . . . . Baltic Rush

Also has lateral flowers, c. 1/4 way down smooth stem with continuous pith; local on saltmarshes from Fife Northwards

Juncus biglumis . . . . Two-flowered Rush

Rare on mountain flushes in C Highlands to Hebrides; flowers one above other

Juncus bufonius . . . . Toad Rush

Often gives the impression of a pearlwort ( Sagina sp.)

Distinguished from the rarer often smaller J. ranarius (Frog rush) by sharp inner tepals, usually as long as or longer than fruit

Juncus bulbosus . . . . Bulbous Rush

Common in wet places, one form upright on land and one sprawling aquatic (Pic 4); often reddish

Note the bulbils among roots; commonly viviparous:

Juncus capitatus . . . . Dwarf Rush

V. small (<5cm) with compact terminal flowerhead; Very local in CI, Cornwall and Anglesea; the 2 r.h. pictures show it with J. bufonius

Juncus castaneus . . . . Chestnut Rush

Rare on mountain flushes in C & NW Highlands of Sc

Juncus conglomeratus . . . . Compact Rush

Very dense panicles; stem with about 40 ridges (esp. below flower); N.B. plants with smooth stems are likely to be J. effusus (var. subconglomeratus)

Juncus effusus . . . . Soft Rush

Smooth stems with continuous pith, fl heads can vary from dense (var. subconglomeratus) to spreading

N.B. the variety subconglomeratus has dense panicles and resembles J. conglomeratus but with smooth stems

Juncus gerardii . . . . Saltmarsh Rush

Leaves channeled on upper side; common around BI coasts

Juncus inflexus . . . . Hard Rush

Note ridged, rather thin, stems with <20 ridges; Loose inflorescence

Juncus maritimus . . . . Sea Rush

Juncus ranarius . . . . Frog Rush

Distinguished from the often larger J. bufonius (Toad rush) by rounded inner tepals (arrowed) shorter than the rounded fruit; uncommon on brackish habitats near coast and salted roads

Juncus squarrosus . . . . Heath Rush

Common on moorland

Juncus subnodulosus . . . . Blunt-flowered Rush

Pale; Leaf flattened hollow with both longitudinal and many cross joints; locally frequent in marshes and duneslacks in En, Wa, Ire and uncommon in Jersey and S Sc

Juncus tenuis . . . . Slender Rush

Common on paths and tracks

Juncus trifidus . . . . Three-leaved Rush

On bare ground on Scottish mountain tops only:

Juncus triglumis . . . . Three-flowered Rush

Local on mountain tops only:

Luzula . . . Woodrushes

Flat grass-like leaves with fine hairs on edges

Select from the 8 spp. listed below:

L. pilosa

L. forsteri

L. campestris

L. multiflora

L. multiflora (ssp. congesta)

L. spicata

L. sylvatica

L. luzuloides

Luzula campestris . . . . Field Woodrush

Note L. campestris has one sessile and 3 stalked heads, a very short bract below flower and tepals with blunt tips and bright yellow anthers >>filaments; c.f. L. multiflora (heath woodrush)