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Juncaceae - Rush Family

Waves of Grain Index - Not Grass

There are two Genus in the Rush family of Juncaceae: Juncus (rush) and Luzula (wood rush).  There are no listed Luzula in Texas.

Juncaceae - Rush Family

Torrey Rush Juncus torreyi

  Green & red globular seed-head, 1/2" wide (smaller and brown when dry).  Spikelets very long and pointed with pointed sepals, petals and capsules giving them a bristly look. Six stamens per floret.  Each capsule contains many seeds.  Leaves are round with a linear groove and cross partitions.  Plant grows over 2 feet tall.  Fibrous rhizomes become tuberous at intervals where a new plant develops.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2005, August 2007

Dry plant photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Nolan, Runnels, Coleman, Brown)

Similar Species

Flatleaf Rush (Many-head Rush, Canada Rush) Juncus polycephalus (Juncus canadensis)

Depending on the site, the two species names can be distinct, interchangeable, or an old synonym.

Spherical clusters of spikelets on long pedicels that can branch, long bract.  Multiple clusters on a stem.  Clump from single base.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Round-head Rush Juncus validus var. validus

Spherical clusters of spikelets on short pedicels, short bract.  Multiple clusters on a stem.  Looks-like they come out of side of stem.  No rhizomes.

(Native of Texas - Eastland)

Rush in my area - fat spikelets

Inland Rush Juncus interior var. interior

Fat round red spikelets with points clustered in a fan on short pedicels.  Mostly basal leaves.  Looks-like they come out of side of stem.

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Brown)

Grassleaf Rush (Two-flower Rush, Needle Point Rush) Juncus marginatus

Fat round red spikelets with points clustered in loose balls.  Multiple plants grow from roots.

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan)

Rush in my area - long pointed spikelets

Toad Rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius

Round spear-pointed male spikelets are single or in fan shaped clusters.  Female flowers are in leaf bend.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Dudley Rush Juncus dudleyi

Long pointed spikelets on short pedicels.  Looks-like they come out of side of stem.

(Native of Texas - Taylor)

Rush in my area - daisy-shaped

Ringseed Rush Juncus filipendulus

One or two clusters of upward pointing spicklets on a culm.  Leaves basal

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown)

Waves of Grain Index - Not Grass