familyJuncaceae

Juncaceae

A. L. Jussieu
Common names: Rush Family
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22. Treatment on page 211.

Herbs, perennial, occasionally annual, usually rhizomatous, orsometimes cespitose. Culms round or flat. Leaves mostly basal; sheath margins fused or overlapping, often with 2 earlike extensions (auricles) at blade junction; blade flat or round, glabrous or margins hairy. Inflorescences of headlike clusters or single flowers variously arranged; bracts subtending inflorescence 1 or more2, mostly leaflike; bracts subtending inflorescence branches 1–2, reduced; bracteoles subtending solitary flower 0–2, translucent, reduced. Flowers usually bisexual, radially symmetric; sepals and petals similar, persistent, green to brown or purplish black; stamens usually 3 or 6; anthers persistent, linear; pistils 1; ovaries superior, locules 1 or 3, placentas 1 and basal or 3 and axile or parietal; stigmas generally longer than styles. Fruits capsules, loculicidal. Seeds 3–many, often with white appendages on 1 or both ends.

Distribution

Arctic and temperate regions, tropical mountains.

Discussion

Genera 9, species ca. 350 (2 genera, 1108 species in the flora).

Lower Taxa

Key

1 Leaves glabrous, sheaths open; fruits 1- or 3-chambered; seeds many Juncus
1 Leaves generally with hairy margins; fruits 1-chambered; seeds 3 Luzula