Juncus acutus subsp. leopoldii

(Parlatore) Snogerup

Bot. Not. 131: 187. 1978.

Common names: Sharp rush
Illustrated
Basionym: Juncus leopoldii Linnaeus Giorn. Bot. Ital. 2: 324. 1845
Synonyms: Juncus acutus var. sphaerocarpus Engelmann Juncus acutus var. sphaerocarpus Engelmann forma xanthosus Jepson Juncus robustus S. Watson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.

Herbs, perennial, robust, tufted, often forming clumps to 1 m diam., 6–12 dm. Culms 3–4 mm diam. Cataphylls 1–2. Leaves basal, 2–4; sheaths brownish, inflated; auricles absent or prolonged 1–3 mm, cartilaginous; blade terete, 30–100 dcm × 2–3 mm. Inflorescences sympodial or appearing lateral, glomerules numerous, each with 2–5 flowers, branches unequal, 5–20 cm; primary bract inflated, usually shorter than inflorescence. Flowers: tepals straw-colored, brown-tipped, 2–4 mm; outer tepals widely lanceolate, margins scarious, apex obtuse to acutish; inner tepals rounded, shorter; stamens 6, filaments 0.2–0.4 mm, anthers 1.2–1.8 mm; style 1–1.2 mm. Capsules yellow-brown, pseudo-3-locular, nearly globose, 3.5–5 × 2.4–3.3 mm, obviously exceeding perianth, mucronate. Seeds brownish, obliquely obovoid, body 0.6–0.7 mm, tails 0.2–0.3 mm.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting late spring–summer.
Habitat: Moist saline habitats and alkaline seeps
Elevation: below 300 m

Distribution

V22 135-distribution-map.jpg

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Baja California), South America, South Africa, Atlantic Islands.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Ralph E. Brooks* +  and Steven E. Clemants* +
(Parlatore) Snogerup +
Juncus leopoldii +
Sharp rush +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +, Mexico (Baja California) +, South America +, South Africa +  and Atlantic Islands. +
below 300 m +
Moist saline habitats and alkaline seeps +
Flowering and fruiting late spring–summer. +
Illustrated +
Juncus acutus var. sphaerocarpus +  and Juncus robustus +
Juncus acutus subsp. leopoldii +
Juncus acutus +
subspecies +