Biology:Juncus marginatus

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of grass

Juncus marginatus
Juncus marginatus BB-1913.png
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Juncaceae
Genus: Juncus
Species:
J. marginatus
Binomial name
Juncus marginatus
Rostk.
Synonyms[1]

Juncus marginatus is a species of flowering plant, it is a type of rush with the common names of margined rush and grass-leaf rush.[2]

Description

Juncus marginatus is a grass-like, herbaceous, short-lived perennial growing from short rhizomes.[3] Plants produce dense tufts or clumps growing 30-130 cm tall.[4] The plants are sometimes rhizomatous. The leaf blades are flat. The flowers are grouped together into a terminal inflorescence called a glomerulus.[5] Each flower has three stamens and three sharply acute sepals that are reddish-brown in color. The plump and ribbed seeds are produced in a rounded and beakless capsule. The small yellow to light brown seeds are spindle-shaped, and around 0.5mm in length and lack a tail but have sharp points on either end (apiculate).[3][4] The diploid chromosome count is 38.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Juncus marginatus grows in North America in the Eastern and Southeastern US, ranging to Texas and South Dakota.[5] It is also found Ontario Canada, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, New Mexico, the West Indies (Cuba), and Central America; where is found growing in moist to wet bogs, on shorelines, in marshes and ditches - with sandy, peaty, or clayey soils.[4] One historic population existed in Minnesota until 1999 when other small populations were found in Anoka County; because of its rarity it was listed as an endangered specie in the state.[3] In Minnesota the species is found growing in shallow wetlands/prairies of the Anoka Sand Plain where the normally dry sandy ground dips below the water table.[3]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q15506569 entry