Species

Juncus sonderianus

Etymology

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

Authority

Juncus sonderianus Buchenau

Family

Juncaceae

Brief Description

Leafy rush to 35 cm tall, leaves mostly at the base of the plant, up to 15 cm long and 5 mm wide, with branched flowerheads made up 1 to 3 clusters of many tightly clumped greenish to chestnut brown flowers/capsules (fruit).

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

JUNSON

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

Juncus sp. aff. caespiticius

Distribution

Common in Northland and northern Auckland.

Habitat

Wet sandy places.

Features

Perennial, caespitose, 11-35 cm tall. Leaves basal or subbasal, 5-17 x (1.5) 2-5 (7) cm, acute apex, Inflorescence clustered, globose head of 1-3 (12) usually 6-12 flowerd clusters or 1-3 clusters shortly pedunculate. Stamens 6. Tepals subequal c. 3.7-4.2 mm long, grren-, pale- or red-brown with greenish central band. Capsule ovoid, subacute, apiculate, c. 2.5-3 mm.

Similar Taxa

Very similar to the native J. caespiticius, but unlike this species it has several flower heads in an umbel rather than 1 or 2 compact globular heads.

Flowering

Spring to early summer

Flower Colours

Brown,Green

Year Naturalised

1990

Origin

South Africa

Reason for Introduction

Unknown, seed or soil contaminant.

Control Techniques

Not controlled in New Zealand.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seed dispersed by animals, water or contaminated machinery.

Tolerances

Can tolerate brackish water. Frost tolerant.

Notes on taxonomy

Recognised as present in New Zealand by Kirschner (2002). Subgenus Juncus, Section Graminifolii Kirschner (2002: Juncaceae 2)

Attribution

Factsheet prepared by Paul Champion and Deborah Hofstra (NIWA).

References and further reading

Kirschner, J. (compiler) (2002).  Juncaceae 2: Juncus subg. Juncus, Species Plantarum:  Flora of the World Part 7: 1-336.

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

This page last updated on 4 Jun 2015