Juncus occidentalis
Encyclopedia
Juncus occidentalis is a species of rush
known by the common name western rush. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a bunching perennial herb with thin, stiff stems reaching maximum heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The wispy leaves grow from the base of the stem and may approach half the stem's length. The inflorescence
holds loose bundles of individual flowers and there is usually one long, leaflike bract
extending far past the flowers. Each flower has green-striped brownish to reddish tepal
s each several millimeters long, and six stamen
s with small anthers. The fruit is a brown capsule which grows encased within the tepals.
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 western rush. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a bunching perennial herb with thin, stiff stems reaching maximum heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The wispy leaves grow from the base of the stem and may approach half the stem's 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...
holds loose bundles of individual flowers and there is usually one long, leaflike 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...
extending far past the flowers. Each flower has green-striped brownish to reddish 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 each several millimeters long, and six stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s with small anthers. The fruit is a brown capsule which grows encased within the tepals.