Rushes
What are they?
Rushes are common to abundant and often dominant plants in wetland habitats. Most species form tight clumps of upright stems with no leaves, but some have a more spreading habit.
Where are they found?
Most species are found in wetland habitats, from damp, grassy fields to permanent swamps, while some species are found in saltmarsh. A few species occur in dry, sandy fields and woodland clearings.
Identification
Identifying green stems with yellowy brown flowers is not every one's idea of fun! Rushes can seem daunting at first, but most species are relatively straight forward if healthy, flowering material is studied.
Soft Rush Juncus effusus
Widespread and common in open, wet areas. Most common in degraded habitats, such as at Cape May Point State Park where it is increased by over-mowing. Flowers June to August. Stems are rounded, smooth, unribbed and full of white pith inside.
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Common Rush Juncus pylaei
This species has often been considered a subspecies of Soft Rush in the past, so is often not mentioned separately in plant lists for the region. Common and widespread in damp, usually open, ground. Flowers June to August. The strongly ridged stem readily separates this species from the smooth-stemmed Soft Rush.
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Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii
(Black-grass) A dominant species along the drier back edges of saltmarsh, often mixed with Salt-meadow Cord-grass. Flowers June to August.
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Leathery Rush Juncus coriaceus
An uncommon species of wet areas, usually appearing in open rather than shaded habitats. Flowers June to August.
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Forked Rush Juncus dichotomus
Widespread in a range of habitats and often in drier soils than most species. Flowers June to August. A clump-forming species with stem usually extending well above the flower spike.
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Slender Rush Juncus tenuis
Widespread and very common in dry fields and along sandy tracks, even in well-walked areas. Flowers May to September. Often forms dense mats of plants on dirt paths and trails and then looks like a shiny-leaved grass.
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Toad Rush Juncus bufonius
Widespread and very common in all kinds of damp situations, particularly in disturbed areas such as tracks, trails and waste ground. Flowers May to July. Can be very common on damp, open, peaty ground where it may form a dense, 'grassy' carpet. A low, spreading species, often no more than four inches or so high.
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Grass-leaved Rush Juncus marginatus
Occasional in wet places. Flowers late June to August. As the name suggests, the leaves are rather broad and grass-like.
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and leaf (right) |
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Canadian Rush Juncus canadensis
Widespread and common in most kinds of wetland habitats, including brackish areas of saltmarsh. Flowers July to September.
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New Jersey Rush Juncus caesariensis
A scarce wetland plant, found at scattered locations along the eastern seaboard of North America. Flowers July to September. Very similar to Canadian Rush and easily overlooked where the two might be growing together. New Jersey Rush can be recognized by the rather rough texture to the leaves and stem. Canadian Rush has a very smooth surface.
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Brown-fruited Rush Juncus pelocarpus
A plant of damp edges of swamps and ponds. Flowers July to September. A strange species as most plants produce small bulblets instead of flowers, giving the plants a very distinctive look.
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Scirpus-like Rush Juncus scirpoides
Uncommon but widely scattered in coastal, sandy wetlands. Flowers July to August.
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Sharp-fruited Rush Juncus acuminatus
A fairly common species of damp hollows and wet ground. Flowers June to September. Similar to Weak Rush but often growing a little taller, with a larger flower head. When in fruit, the tip of the seed head falls about level with the tip of the sepals.
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(note cross lines) |
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than sepals |
Weak Rush Juncus debilis
An uncommon species of wet, sandy places. Flowers June to October. A small species with rather thin stems and small fruits. When in fruit, the tip of the fruit is longer than the tip of the sepals.
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Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus
A common species of well-vegetated wetlands, particularly favoring the fresher back edges of coastal wetlands. Flowers June to August. Leaves are relatively short and curved. Stems have pale bands on them, making the plant look 'jointed'.
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Slim-pod Rush Juncus diffusissimus
Uncommon species of well-vegetated wetlands. Flowers June to August.
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Heath Wood-rush Luzula multiflora
A widespread species found in a wide range of habitats, but most frequently in dry, short-grass areas, including lawns, golf courses and cemeteries. Flowers late April to June.
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| male parts ripe |
female parts ripe |
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