Moss Dwarf Rush

Herbs, annual, cespitose, 0.03--0.25 dm. Culms to 150, 0.1--0.2 mm wide. Leaves to 0.9 cm, 1/4--1 times height of plant. Inflorescences terminal solitary flowers; bracts subtending inflorescence (1--)2, ovate, inconspicuous, 0.3--0.9 mm, membranous, apex acute. Flowers 3-merous; : tepals (4--)6(--8), turning inward to enwrap shorter capsule at maturity, chestnut brown to black, lanceolate to oblong, 1.2--2.3(--2.8) ã  0.4--0.6 mm; ; outer and inner series nearly equal, acute to acuminate; stamens 3, filaments 0.3--0.6 mm, anthers 0.15--0.25 mm; style 0.1 mm, stigma 0.2--0.3 mm. Capsules pale reddish, 3-locular, ovoid to ellipsoid, 1--1.9 mm  ã 0.5--1 mm. Seeds ovoid to globose, 0.3--0.5 mm. 2n = ca. 38.

Calif., Colo., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah; Mexico.

Flowering and fruiting spring--mid summer.

Usually fine, sandy soil of washes, swales in meadows, and seepage areas on rock outcrops; 600--3600m.

Juncus bryoides is a species of rush known by the common names moss rush and mosslike dwarf rush. It is native to western North America from Oregon to Baja California, where it grows in many types of wet, sandy habitat. It is a very tiny annual herb producing erect, hair-thin stems no more than about 2 centimeters tall. Atop the stem is one flower made up of a few reddish segments 1 to 3 millimeters long which curve around the developing fruit.