Juncus diastrophanthus Buch.

Plants perennial, tufted, (5--)15--25(--35) cm tall. Rhizome short. Stems slightly compressed, 1--2.5 mm wide, very narrowly winged on both sides. Basal leaves few, cauline leaves 1--3; leaf sheath auricles somewhat obtuse, free portion ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade linear, compressed, 3--10 cm × 1--4 mm, incompletely septate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, usually 2- or 3-branched, 7--8 cm; involucral bract leaflike, 1.7--4 cm; heads (3--)6--24, globose, starlike, 6--10 mm in diam., 5--14-flowered. Perianth segments narrowly lanceolate, 3--4 × 0.7--1 mm, unequal with inner ones longer than outer, margin scarious, apex with setaceous tip. Stamens 3, 1/2--2/3 as long as perianth; filaments ca. 1 mm; anthers oblong, ca. 0.8 mm. Ovary 1-loculed. Capsule yellowish green to chestnut brown, shiny, trigonous oblong, 4--5 mm, apex acute. Seeds obovate-ellipsoid, 0.5--0.7 mm, striate, both ends mucronate. Fl. Apr--Jun, fr. Apr--Oct.

Anhui, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang [India, Japan, Korea].

Moist places in sparse forests, streamsides, fields; 600--1300 m.