Pointed Rush

Juncus oxymeris should be expected in Mexico (Baja California).

Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, 3--6 dm. Rhizomes 1--2 mm diam. Culms erect, 2--4 mm diam. Cataphylls 0--1, straw-colored, apex narrowly acute. Leaves: basal 1--3, cauline 3--4, straw-colored; auricles absent; blade 3--20 cm  ã 3--7 mm. Inflorescences panicles of 10--50 heads, 6--20 cm, erect to ascending branches; primary bract erect; heads 3--11-flowered, turbinate to hemispheric, 4--8 mm diam. Flowers: tepals straw-colored, lanceolate, 2.5--3.2 mm, nearly equal, apex acute to narrowly acuminate, mucronate; stamens 6, anthers 0.5--1.5 times length of filaments. Capsules exserted, chestnut brown, 1-locular, broadly lanceoloid to narrowly oblong, 3.3--4.7 mm, apex tapering to beak, separating at dehiscence. Seeds obovoid, 0.5 mm, not tailed.

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

Fruiting late spring--fall.

Stream and lake shores, montane meadows and seasonally emergent wetlands; 100--2000m.

Juncus acutiflorus Bentham, not Ehrhart

This straw-colored rush rarely exceeds a height of 60 centimeters. Juncus oxymeris is an uncommon plant that occurs from California to Washington State, chiefly seen on montane meadows; along lakes, streams or seasonally emergent wetlands; in scrub; or within yellow-pine forest.

Juncus oxymeris, common name pointed rush is a species of rush native to the West Coast of North America (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California). It occurs in moist areas such as lakeshores, riverbanks, and moist meadows at elevations of 100–2,000 m (330–6,560 ft).

Juncus oxymeris is a perennial herb up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) in height, spreading by underground rhizomes. Leaves are gladiolate, i.e., flattened with one edge toward the stem, similar to those of Iris or Gladiolus. Flowers are straw-colored, with lanceolate tepals.