Juncus patens

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Poales

Familia: Juncaceae
Genus: Juncus
Species: Juncus patens
Name

Juncus patens E.Mey., 1823
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
'Regional: Western USA
USA (California, Oregon, Washington State)
'Regional: Mexico
Mexico (Baja California Norte)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Meyer, E.H.F., 1823. Synopsis Luzularum rite Cognitorum. Cum Additamentis Quibusdam ad Juncorum Synopsis Prius Editam. Editit Ernestus Henr. Fridr. Meyer. Gottingae [Göttingen] 28 (1823)

Additional references

Kirschner, J. & al. (2002). Juncaceae Species Plantarum: Flora of the World 6-8: 1-237, 1-336,1-192. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2022. Juncus patens in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2022 Mar 07. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2022. Juncus patens. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2022. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2022 Mar 07. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2022. Juncus patens. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 07 Mar 2022.
International Plant Names Index. 2022. Juncus patens. Published online. Accessed: Mar 07 2022.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Juncus patens in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Vernacular names
العربية: أسل منفتح
English: spreading rush

Juncus patens is a species of rush, known by the common names spreading rush and California grey rush.[1]

It is native to the West Coast of the United States from Washington to California, and into Baja California, Mexico.[2]

It grows at seeps, springs, and riparian zones in stream beds and on river and pond banks, in marshes, and in other moist habitats.[3]

Description

Juncus patens is a perennial herb forming narrow, erect bunches of stems. It grows up to 3 feet (0.91 m) in height by 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) in width.[3][4] It spreads by rhizomes, which can increase a colonies width substantially.

The stems are thin, gray-green, often somewhat waxy, and grooved, and grow 30–90 centimetres (12–35 in) in height.

The inflorescence sprouts from the side of the stem, rather than its tip. It holds many flowers, each of which has short, narrow, pointed tepals and six stamens. It flowers in the summer.

The fruit is a spherical red or brown capsule which fills and bulges from the dried flower remnants when mature. The seeds attract birds.
Cultivation

Juncus patens is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in traditional and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping design, and in habitat restoration projects.[5][6] Its tall narrow form fits into narrow garden beds and planters adjacent to walkway walls, and in container planting.[7] Despite its moist habitat origins, it can be very drought-tolerant when established.[4][8]

In sustainable gardening and sustainable landscaping, Juncus patens is used in rain gardens and phytoremediation swales and intermittent ponds.
Cultivars

Cultivars of Juncus patens, selected for blue and/or gray foliage emphasis, include:

Juncus patens 'Carman's Grey' — Carmen's California Gray Rush, steely blue-gray.[9]
Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' — Elk Blue California Gray Rush, blue-gray.[10]
Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue' — Occidental Blue California Gray Rush, gray-green.[11][12]

References

Flora of North America: Juncus patens
USDA
Encyclopedia of Life: Juncus patens; C.Michael Hogan ed. 2010.
Las Pilitas Database: Juncus patens (Common Rush)
California Natives Wiki: Juncus patens — Theodore Paune Foundation horticulture database.
San Marcos Growers database: Juncus patens homepage
Harlow, Nora and Kristin Jakob; Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots; Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA; University of California Press; 2003.