Straightleaf Rush

Herbs, perennial, 2--4 dm. Rhizomes creeping. Culms compressed. Leaves: basal several, cauline 0--3; auricles, if present, 0.5--1 mm, apex acutish; blade flat, basal 10--40 cm x 1--6 mm, cauline blade reduced. Inflorescences glomerules, usually 3--12, each with 5--10 flowers, open; primary bract much shorter than inflorescence. Flowers: tepals brown, lanceolate, 5--6 mm, apex obtuse; outer series shorter, margins scarious, apex acute, minutely papillose; inner series with margins clear; stamens 6, filaments 0.5--1 mm, anthers 1.6--2.4(--3) mm; style 0.5--2 mm. Capsules tan, 3-locular, obovoid, 3--5 mm, shorter than perianth. Seeds ovoid, 0.6 mm, not tailed.

B.C.; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Wash.

Flowering and fruiting late spring to summer.

Moist ground in mountain meadows; 1200--3500m.

Juncus longistylis Torrey var. latifolius Engelmann, Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 2: 496. 1868; J. latifolius (Engelmann) Buchenau 1890, not Wulfen 1789

Juncus orthophyllus is a species of rush known by the common name straightleaf rush native to western North America from British Columbia to California and Nevada, where it grows in moist spots in mountain habitat, such as meadows.