Juncus confusus
Encyclopedia
Juncus confusus is a species of rush
known by the common name Colorado rush. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to northern California
to Colorado
, where it grows in coniferous forests and wet, grassy areas such as mountain meadows. It is a bunching rhizomatous
perennial herb which grows to a maximum height between 30 and 50 centimeters. Its thready leaves grow from the base of the light green stems to about 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence
atop the stem is an array of individual flowers and there is a long bract
at the base which may be up to 8 centimeters in length. Each flower has long, pointed tepal
s with dark and light longitudinal stripes and membranous, translucent borders. There are six stamen
s. The fruit is a light to dark brown oval-shaped or rounded capsule.
Juncus
Juncus is a genus in the plant family Juncaceae. It consists of some 200 to 300 or more species of grassy plants commonly called rushes...
known by the common name Colorado rush. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where it grows in coniferous forests and wet, grassy areas such as mountain meadows. It is a bunching rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb which grows to a maximum height between 30 and 50 centimeters. Its thready leaves grow from the base of the light green stems to about 15 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
atop the stem is an array of individual flowers and there is a long bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
at the base which may be up to 8 centimeters in length. Each flower has long, pointed tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s with dark and light longitudinal stripes and membranous, translucent borders. There are six stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s. The fruit is a light to dark brown oval-shaped or rounded capsule.