Species

Juncus squarrosus

Etymology

Juncus: From the Latin jungere 'to tie or bind', the stems of some species being used to make cord (Johnson and Smith)

Common Name(s)

heath rush

Authority

Juncus squarrosus L.

Family

Juncaceae

Brief Description

Leafy rush to 35 cm tall, leaves wiry, mostly at the base of the plant, bending downwards just above the base, with flowerheads made up of a few clusters of 2 to 3 dark brown flowers/capsules (fruit).

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

JUNSQU

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Rushes and Allied Plants

Synonyms

Leafy rush to 35 cm tall, leaves wiry, mostly at the base of the plant, bending downwards just above the base, with flowerheads made up of a few clusters of 2 to 3 dark brown flowers/capsules (fruit).

Distribution

Scattered but local abundant from Wairarapa and South Island from Marlborough to Otago and also Stewart Island.

Habitat

Peaty and other low nutrient (acid) sites.

Features

Perennial, very dense coarse tufts (15) -25-35 cm high; roots thick, spreading. Stems stout, stiffly erect. Leaves many, usually all basal, c. ½ length of stems, wiry, very stiff, channelled, abruptly reflexed from just above very wide sheath. Inflorescence 2-8-(12) cm long, strict, with few unequal branches. Flowers in clusters of 2-3-(6) at ends of branches. Tepals 5-6 mm long, ± equal, dark chestnut-brown even in young flowers, tips subulate to acute. Stamens 6, Capsule c. 5 mm long, slightly < tepals, obovate, very shortly mucronate, yellow-brown to dark chestnut-brown.

Similar Taxa

No other rush has the reflexed stiff wiry leaves and the large dark chestnut brown capsules.

Flowering

Spring to early summer

Flower Colours

Brown

Fruiting

Summer to autumn

Year Naturalised

1970

Origin

Europe and North Africa

Reason for Introduction

Unknown, seed or soil contaminant

Control Techniques

Rarely controlled, but can be controlled manually, mechanically or herbicidally depending on situation, susceptible to grazing.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seed dispersed by animals, water or contaminated machinery.

Notes on taxonomy

Subgenus Agathyron, Section Steirochloa (Poiophylli) Kirschner (2002: Juncaceae 3)

Attribution

Facthseet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA). Featured description from Healy and Edgar (1980).

References and further reading

Healy, A.J.; Edgar, E.  (1980). Flora of New Zealand, Volume III.  Adventive Cyperaceous, Petalous and Spathaceous Monocotyledons.  Government Printer, Wellington.  220pp.

Johnson PN, Brooke PA (1989).  Wetland plants in New Zealand.   DSIR Field Guide, DSIR Publishing, Wellington. 319pp.

Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A (1986). Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd: Buckenhill, UK.

Champion et al (2012). Freshwater Pests of New Zealand.  NIWA publication. http://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/management-tools/identification-guides-and-fact-sheets/freshwater-pest-species

Kirschner, J. (compiler) (2002).  Juncaceae 3: Juncus subg. Agathryon, Species Plantarum:  Flora of the World Part 8: 1-192.

Healy, A.J.  (1982). Identification of weeds and clovers.  New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Society Publication.  Editorial Services Limited, Featherston.  299pp.

This page last updated on 5 Jun 2014