Salt Rush

Herbs, perennial, 3--14 dm. Rhizomes long- creeping. Culms erect, 1--3 mm diam. Cataphylls several. Leaves: blade absent. Inflorescences lateral, 3--many-flowered, mostly loose; primary bract much longer than inflorescence. Flowers variously pedicellate; bracteoles membranous; tepals green, lanceolate, 5--8 mm, margins brown; inner series loosely subtending capsule at maturity, usually slightly shorter, margins scarious to clear, acutish; stamens 6, filaments 0.2--1.1 mm, anthers 0.9--2.3 mm; style 1--1.5 mm. Capsules 3-locular, oblate to narrowly ovoid, 4--7 mm, shorter than or nearly equal to perianth. Seeds dark amber, oblate to ellipsoid, 0.4--0.7 mm.

B.C.; Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Flowering and fruiting summer.

Borders of salt or freshwater marshes and usually near dunes along the coast; 0--500m.

Juncus balticus Willdenow subsp. pacificus Engelmann; J. lesueurii var. tracyi Jepson

Juncus lesueurii occurs chiefly on the far western areas of North America, predominently at the margins of estuaries and brackish lagoons; however, it is also found near fringes of certain freshwater bodies. Also called Salt rush, this perennial herb may attain heights of up to 1.4 meters, and is supported by a creeping network of elongated rhizomes.

Native Americans, notably the Chumash, made use of the Salt rush as a foundation material in basketry. A vast array of birds and other wildlife utilize habitats where Salt rush is a dominant herb. This perennial plant is also advantageous for control of erosion in coastal environments.

Juncus lesueurii is a species of rush known by the common names Lesueur's rush and salt rush. It is accepted by some authorities as Juncus lescurii.