Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist areas, from coastal tideflats to mountain meadows and ridges.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Both native and introduced
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Strongly tufted perennial with stout rhizomes, the stems terete, 2-10 dm. tall, finely grooved, 1.5-3 mm. thick.
Leaves bladeless or with a short, awn-like blade; leaf bases sheathing, the sheaths pale to deep brown, 5-12 cm. long.
Inflorescence apparently lateral, the involucral bract terete and resembling the stem, 5-20 cm. long, up to 1/3 the length of the stem; flowers numerous in a subcapitate to diffuse panicle up to 15 cm. long; perianth 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the 6 segments narrowly lanceolate; stamens 3, opposite the outer tepals.
Capsule equal to the perianth, obovoid but three-angled above, flat on the end.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 326. 1753.
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ssp. effusus – soft rush
Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and eastern North America. -
ssp. pacificus – Pacific rush Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, disjunct in the Blue Mountains of Washington.
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ssp. solutus – eastern soft rush Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Nevada; also in eastern North America, where native.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Juncus effusus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Juncus effusus checklist entry
OregonFlora: Juncus effusus information
E-Flora BC: Juncus effusus atlas page
CalPhotos: Juncus effusus photos
