Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
- Family: Rush (Juncaceae)
- Flowering: May-September.
- Field Marks: This is the only Juncus with the flowers appearing lateral on the stem and no leaves.
- Habitat: Wet ground, in ditches, swamps, marshes, around ponds and lakes.
- Habit: Tufted perennial herb with rhizomes.
- Stems: Erect, hollow, smooth, up to 4 1/2 feet tall.
- Leaves: None.
- Flowers: Several in a cluster, arising from the stem a few inches below the top, each flower green or brown, about 1/6 inch long.
- Sepals: 3, free from each other, narrow, tapering to a point.
- Petals: 3, free from each other, narrow, tapering to a point.
- Stamens: 3.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Capsules obovoid, brown, smooth, about 1/6 inch long; seeds numerous, straw-colored, 1/40 inch long.
- Notes: Muskrats sometimes eat the stems of this rush; the seeds are eaten by waterfowl.
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