Juncus ensifolius
Encyclopedia
Juncus ensifolius is a species of rush
known by the common name swordleaf rush. It is native to much of western North America from Alaska
to central Mexico, and into eastern Canada. It is present in Japan and far eastern Russia, and it has been introduced
to many other regions of the world, including Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. It is a plant of wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a rhizomatous
perennial herb forming clumps of stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall. The flat but curving leaves are mostly located at the base of the stems and are variable in length. The inflorescence
is an array of many rounded clusters of many flowers each. Each flower has a number of dark brown to black tepal
s a few millimeters long and usually three small stamen
s enclosed between them. The fruit is an oblong capsule with a small beak on the tip.
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 swordleaf rush. It is native to much of western North America from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to central Mexico, and into eastern Canada. It is present in Japan and far eastern Russia, and it has been introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
to many other regions of the world, including Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. It is a plant of wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a 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 forming clumps of stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall. The flat but curving leaves are mostly located at the base of the stems and are variable in length. 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...
is an array of many rounded clusters of many flowers each. Each flower has a number of dark brown to black 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 a few millimeters long and usually three small stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s enclosed between them. The fruit is an oblong capsule with a small beak on the tip.