Juncus bufonius L.
toad rush
Juncaceae (Rush family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
toad rush
Juncaceae (Rush family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Species Information
General:
Annual herb from fibrous roots; stems erect or sprawling, 2-45 cm tall.
Leaves:
Located on the lower part of the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, lacking cross-walls.
Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, open, commonly much branched, long, forming about 1/2 to 3/4 of the plant height, with many single flowers; perianth segments green, 2.5-6 mm long, pointed, about equal; stamens 6; anthers 0.5-1 mm long, shorter than the filaments; lower bract leaflike, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, usually shorter than the inflorescence.
Fruits:
Capsules, cylindrical to nearly globe-shaped, pointed, shorter than the perianth segments; seeds barrel-like, about 0.4 mm long, lacking tail-like appendages.
Notes:
Variable species with a large number of chromosomal races. Several taxa within this complex have been described and treated as distinct species or varieties.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Green
Blooming Period:
Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Juncus bufonius
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
545 | 2 | 1280 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
1 | 0 | 8 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
261 | 254 | 270 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
6 | 5 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
14 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
SBS | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(1), CDF(2), CWH(3), PP(1), SBPS(2), SBS(3) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Wet open places, disturbed sites, fields, gardens, roadsides, lakeshores, riverbanks and forest margins in all vegetation zones except the alpine; common throughout BC; cosmopolitan, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to ME, MA, PA, NC, FL, MS, TX, NM, AZ and CA; Eurasia; apparently both native and introduced in our area.Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Juncus bufonius var. bufonius L.
Juncus bufonius var. halophilis