rushes

genus Juncus

Member of rushes and allies (family Juncaceae)
grasses, sedges, cattails, and allies (order Poales)
monocots (class Liliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

There are a lot of species in the bay area; I’ve only included the most common ones here (CalFlora observations > ±80).

toad rush
Juncus bufonius

plant 2–10 cm tall (rarely taller)

all others are > 10 cm tall

western rush
Juncus occidentalis

plant 30–60 cm tall
inflorescence bract does not look like stem

generally one bract is longer than the inflorescence

leaf blade 1–1.5 mm wide

irisleaf rush
Juncus xiphioides

irisleaf rush
Juncus xiphioides

plant 40–80 cm tall
inflorescnce bract does not look like stem

all bracts are < ½ the length of the inflorescence

leaf blade flattened, 5–14 mm wide

only common species in the bay area with a flattened leaf blade (not wiry or absent)

cylindric inflorescence bract continues above inflorescence, making the inflorescence appear as if it is on the side of the stem

san francisco rush
Juncus lesueurii

plant 30–140 cm tall
stems scattered or in loose lines
2–3 stamens

soft rush
Juncus effusus

plant 60–155 cm tall
stems in dense tufts like bunchgrass
leaf sheathes have no blade

leaf sheath tip thickened with a raised rim
sheath generally dark brown to black

3 stamens

lamp rush
Juncus hesperius

plant 10–115 cm tall
stems in dense tufts like bunchgrass
leaf sheathes have no blade

leaf sheath tip thin with broad membranous wings
sheath green to pale or mid-brown

3 stamens

spreading rush
Juncus patens

spreading rush
Juncus patens

plant 30–105 cm tall
stems in dense tufts like bunchgrass
leaf sheathes have no blade
6 stamens
most common species in the bay area

2 observed taxons / 5 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 6 (1 is research grade)

Locations:

Murray Ranch SP
Portola Redwoods SP
Santa Teresa CP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area
UCSC Campus Natural Reserve
Windy Hill OSP

Months:

Apr.: 1
May: 1
Jun.: 0
Jul.: 2
Aug.: 1
Sep.: 0
Oct.: 0
Nov.: 0
Dec.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora