Hollow Rush

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©Juncus amabilis Richard Hartland CC-BY

Juncus amabilis


Densely tufted greyish-green rush to 50 cm tall covered in fine raised ridges. The leaves are reduced to dark purple brown or dark reddish brown loose sheaths to 20 cm long at the base of the stems.Stems are erect and hard. Forms dense clumps. Reddish flowers vary a lot, may be single or clustered, and become straw-coloured on drying.


Details
Flora Type
Sedges, rushes
Distinctive Features

The crowded dull stems easily spilt lengthways when compressed, and when sliced in half using a thumb-nail have some spongy pith interrupted by many airholes.

Biology

Perennial. Not in the wettest areas but in winter-wet and summer-dry sandy open situations in wetlands and herblands, along creeklines and rivers, and in grasslands and woodlands. Introduced into NZ.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Nov-Dec

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Juncaceae
Genus
Juncus
Species
amabilis

Juncus provide habitat for small birds, lizards and frogs. The seed of some Juncus species was possibly eaten as a food source by Aboriginal people, and the stems were used as fibre for string and basket-making, by Aboriginal people.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

J. gregiflorus is similar and varies in the colour of the fresh stems. Finer forms are easily confused with J. filicaulis but have a more-ridged stem and more airholes in the stem. This species interbreeds with J. pallidus, J. gregiflorus, J. sarophorus, and J. subsecundus.

Native Status
Native