Vascular Plants
Includes all flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern-allies.
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Scientific names beginning with J:
6 genera
64 species, 19 subspecies and varieties
64 species, 19 subspecies and varieties
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Jacobaea maritima – silver ragwort
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southern British Columbia to northwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed areas at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced from Mediterranean region
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southern British Columbia to northwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed areas at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced from Mediterranean region
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Jacobaea vulgaris – tansy ragwort
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana; also in northeastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, pastures, forest edges, wastelots, and other disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana; also in northeastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, pastures, forest edges, wastelots, and other disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Jasione montana – mountain sheep's bit
Distribution: Occurring in the west end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern Washington and adjacent Oregon.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, and other disturbed, open areas at low elevatons.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the west end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern Washington and adjacent Oregon.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, and other disturbed, open areas at low elevatons.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Jaumea carnosa – fleshy jaumea, marsh jaumea
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along coastal waters in Washington; British Columbia to southern California.
Habitat: Tidal flats and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along coastal waters in Washington; British Columbia to southern California.
Habitat: Tidal flats and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juglans ailantifolia – Japanese walnut
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to the Columbia River Gorge in Washington, aslo in west-central Idaho.
Habitat: Riparian corridors, stream and river banks, thickets, and forest edge, at low elevations, often where distrubed.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to the Columbia River Gorge in Washington, aslo in west-central Idaho.
Habitat: Riparian corridors, stream and river banks, thickets, and forest edge, at low elevations, often where distrubed.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juglans nigra – black walnut
Distribution: In scattered locations across Washington, mostly east of the Cascades; central U.S. east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Disturbed areas and riparian zones, typically in the vicinity of urbanized areas where escaped from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: In scattered locations across Washington, mostly east of the Cascades; central U.S. east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Disturbed areas and riparian zones, typically in the vicinity of urbanized areas where escaped from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus acuminatus – knotty leaf rush, sharp-fruited rush, tapered rush
Distribution: Mostly west of the Cascades, British Columbia south to California, east to southwest Idaho and Arizona.
Habitat: Ditches, lake margins, meadows and other wet places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Mostly west of the Cascades, British Columbia south to California, east to southwest Idaho and Arizona.
Habitat: Ditches, lake margins, meadows and other wet places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus alpinoarticulatus – alpine rush, northern rush
Distribution: In scattered location on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; scattered throughout North America from Alaska to Washington, east across Canada and central U.S. to northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, pond and lake shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: In scattered location on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; scattered throughout North America from Alaska to Washington, east across Canada and central U.S. to northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, pond and lake shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus anthelatus – giant path rush
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus articulatus – joint-leaved rush, jointed rush
Origin: Native
Origin: Native
• ssp. articulatus – jointed rush, jointleaf rush
Juncus balticus – Baltic rush
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout much of Washington; widely distributed throughout much of western and central North America, less widely distributed in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet places, often where saline or alkaline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout much of Washington; widely distributed throughout much of western and central North America, less widely distributed in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet places, often where saline or alkaline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. ater – Baltic rush, valley rush
Juncus bolanderi – Bolander's rush
Distribution: West of the Cascades, southern British Columbia south to coastal California.
Habitat: Marshes and river bottoms from tidelands to the lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: West of the Cascades, southern British Columbia south to coastal California.
Habitat: Marshes and river bottoms from tidelands to the lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus brachycarpus – short-fruit rush
Origin: Introduced; native to southeastern and midwestern United States
Origin: Introduced; native to southeastern and midwestern United States
Juncus bufonius
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Annual
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Annual
• var. bufonius – toad rush
• var. congestus – clustered toad rush
• var. occidentalis – western toad rush
Juncus bulbosus – bulbous rush, spreading rush
Distribution: Introduced at several locations in wsestern Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east across northern Canada to the Atlantic Coast; Europe.
Habitat: Sandy or peaty shores of streams and pools.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Introduced at several locations in wsestern Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east across northern Canada to the Atlantic Coast; Europe.
Habitat: Sandy or peaty shores of streams and pools.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus canadensis – Canadian rush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; also in Oregon, otherwise widespread east of the Mississippi River.
Habitat: Brackish swamps, acid bogs, tidal flats and beaches.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: June - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; also in Oregon, otherwise widespread east of the Mississippi River.
Habitat: Brackish swamps, acid bogs, tidal flats and beaches.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: June - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus conglomeratus – compact rush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to Oregon, also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Ditches, wet pastures, shores, and railroad right of ways.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to Oregon, also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Ditches, wet pastures, shores, and railroad right of ways.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus drummondii – Drummond's rush, threeflower rush
Distribution: Alaska south to California, east to the Rockies, Alberta to New Mexico.
Habitat: Alpine to subalpine meadows, streambanks, talus slopes and ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska south to California, east to the Rockies, Alberta to New Mexico.
Habitat: Alpine to subalpine meadows, streambanks, talus slopes and ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus effusus
Distribution: Alaska to Baja California, east to Newfoundland and most of central and eastern United States.
Habitat: Moist areas, from coastal tideflats to mountain meadows and ridges.
Origin: Both native and introduced
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska to Baja California, east to Newfoundland and most of central and eastern United States.
Habitat: Moist areas, from coastal tideflats to mountain meadows and ridges.
Origin: Both native and introduced
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. effusus – soft rush
• ssp. pacificus – common rush, Pacific rush
• ssp. solutus – eastern soft rush
Juncus ensifolius – dagger rush, daggerleaf rush
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout the mountainous areas of Washington; Alaska south to California, east to the Great Plains; introduced in eastern North America.
Habitat: Shores of ponds and streams, wet meadows, fens, seeps, and ditches from low to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout the mountainous areas of Washington; Alaska south to California, east to the Great Plains; introduced in eastern North America.
Habitat: Shores of ponds and streams, wet meadows, fens, seeps, and ditches from low to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus falcatus – sickle-leaved rush
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. sitchensis – Alaskan sickle leaved rush
Juncus filiformis – thread rush
Distribution: Alaska to northern Oregon, east in Canada to Newfoundland and south to Pennsylvania and Montana.
Habitat: Lake shores and coastal bogs to montane marshes and meadows; in Washington, from near sea level to about 5000 feet elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska to northern Oregon, east in Canada to Newfoundland and south to Pennsylvania and Montana.
Habitat: Lake shores and coastal bogs to montane marshes and meadows; in Washington, from near sea level to about 5000 feet elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus gerardi – black rush, mud rush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in counties along the Puget Sound and outer coast; British Columbia south to Oregon, east sporadically across the U.S. to the northern Atlantic coast of the U.S. and Canada; circumboreal.
Habitat: Coastal salt marshes.
Origin: Both native and introduced - occurring in eastern North America, Eurasia.
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in counties along the Puget Sound and outer coast; British Columbia south to Oregon, east sporadically across the U.S. to the northern Atlantic coast of the U.S. and Canada; circumboreal.
Habitat: Coastal salt marshes.
Origin: Both native and introduced - occurring in eastern North America, Eurasia.
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. gerardi – black grass, Gerard's rush, mud rush
Juncus hemiendytus
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Annual
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Annual
• var. hemiendytus – dwarf rush, Hermann's dwarf rush
Juncus interior – inland rush
Distribution: Alberta south to Colorado, east to Quebec and Tennesee; occasional in eastern Washington.
Habitat: Dry, upland sites in prairies, exposed sites in disturbed areas, ditches in sandy or clayey soil
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alberta south to Colorado, east to Quebec and Tennesee; occasional in eastern Washington.
Habitat: Dry, upland sites in prairies, exposed sites in disturbed areas, ditches in sandy or clayey soil
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus kelloggii – Kellogg's dwarf rush
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Annual
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Annual
Juncus longistylis – long-styled rush
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus mertensianus – Mertens' rush
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Wet places along streams and lakes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Wet places along streams and lakes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus nevadensis – Nevada rush
Distribution: Southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rockies, Montana to New Mexico.
Habitat: Wet plasces, margins of streams and lakes, from near sea level to lower elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rockies, Montana to New Mexico.
Habitat: Wet plasces, margins of streams and lakes, from near sea level to lower elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. inventus – dune rush
• var. nevadensis – Sierra rush
Juncus nodosus – knotted rish, tuberous rush
Distribution: East of the Cascades, British Columbia to California, east to Nova Scotia and Maine.
Habitat: Ditches, ponds and wet places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: East of the Cascades, British Columbia to California, east to Nova Scotia and Maine.
Habitat: Ditches, ponds and wet places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus occidentalis – western rush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge to Klickitat County in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California and Mexico.
Habitat: Wet prairies, shores, springs, vernal pools, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge to Klickitat County in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California and Mexico.
Habitat: Wet prairies, shores, springs, vernal pools, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus orthophyllus – straight-leaved rush
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus oxymeris – pointed rush
Distribution: Southwest British Columbia to Caslifornia; in Washington, in the lowlands west of the Cascades.
Habitat: Wet meadows and lake shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Southwest British Columbia to Caslifornia; in Washington, in the lowlands west of the Cascades.
Habitat: Wet meadows and lake shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus parryi – Parry's rush
Distribution: British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Colorado; in the Olympics and Cascades of Washington
Habitat: Moist places, moderate to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Colorado; in the Olympics and Cascades of Washington
Habitat: Moist places, moderate to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus saximontanus – Rocky Mountain rush
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus supiniformis – hair-leaved rush, spreading rush
Distribution: Alaska south along the coast west of the Cascades to Mendocino County, California.
Habitat: Marshes, ponds, ditches and rivers, often where submerged early in the season.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska south along the coast west of the Cascades to Mendocino County, California.
Habitat: Marshes, ponds, ditches and rivers, often where submerged early in the season.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus tenuis – path rush, poverty rush, slender rush
Distribution: Alaska south to Mexico, east across southern Canada and most of the United States.
Habitat: Moist places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska south to Mexico, east across southern Canada and most of the United States.
Habitat: Moist places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus torreyi – Torrey's rush
Distribution: British Columbia south, east of the Cascades, to California, east to Ontario and New York.
Habitat: Wet places, especially around lakes and along streams, form the lowlands to the lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: British Columbia south, east of the Cascades, to California, east to Ontario and New York.
Habitat: Wet places, especially around lakes and along streams, form the lowlands to the lower mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juncus uncialis – inch-high rush
Distribution: Oregon and California, occasional in estern Washington
Habitat: Margins of vernal pools and ponds.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Annual
Distribution: Oregon and California, occasional in estern Washington
Habitat: Margins of vernal pools and ponds.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Annual
Juniperus communis – common juniper, mountain juniper
Distribution: Much of Canada and the United States
Habitat: Lowland woods to mountain valleys and open, rocky alpine slopes
Origin: Native
Cones: April - May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Much of Canada and the United States
Habitat: Lowland woods to mountain valleys and open, rocky alpine slopes
Origin: Native
Cones: April - May
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. depressa – common juniper, dwarf juniper, ground juniper, prostrate juniper
• var. jackii – Jack's common juniper, Jack's mat juniper
Juniperus occidentalis – western juniper.
Distribution: Common east of the Cascades in Oregon, south to California; occasional north to Kittitas County in Washington and east to Idaho
Habitat: Desert foothills and lower mountains
Origin: Native
Cones: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Common east of the Cascades in Oregon, south to California; occasional north to Kittitas County in Washington and east to Idaho
Habitat: Desert foothills and lower mountains
Origin: Native
Cones: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Juniperus scopulorum – Rocky Mountain juniper, seaside juniper, Rocky Mountain redcedar
Distribution: Puget Trough and southwest British Columbia, south, east Cascades, to Oregon, east to Nebraska
Habitat: Coastal islands to inland valleys and lower mountains
Origin: Native
Cones: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Puget Trough and southwest British Columbia, south, east Cascades, to Oregon, east to Nebraska
Habitat: Coastal islands to inland valleys and lower mountains
Origin: Native
Cones: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
