Juncus mertensianus Bong.
Mertens' rush
Juncaceae (Rush family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Mertens' rush
Juncaceae (Rush family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from elongated rhizomes; stems arising singly, erect, 15-25 cm tall.
Leaves:
Located on the lower part of the stem, nearly circular in cross-section, tapered, the early leaves stiff, with prominent complete cross-walls; sheaths open, with rounded, ear-shaped lobes.
Flowers:
Numerous, in single, terminal, hemispheric heads; perianth segments dark brown, 3-4.5 mm long, pointed, the inner about the same length or shorter than the outer; stamens 6; anthers 0.6 mm long, shorter than the filaments; involucral bract solitary, short, equalling or exceeding the inflorescence.
Fruits:
Capsules, cylindrical to egg-shaped, rounded or with small depressions, slightly shorter than the perianth segments; seeds barrel-like, about 0.4 mm long, lacking tail-like appendages.
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:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Juncus mertensianus
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) |
1793 | 100 | 2468 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
14 | 0 | 85 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
180 | 0 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
5 | 0 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
213 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ESSF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
AT(20), BAFA(19), CMA(9), CWH(3), ESSF(123), ICH(3), IDF(1), IMA(7), MH(11), MS(1), SBS(2), SWB(4) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to wet meadows, pond edges, grassy streamsides, snowbed sites and open boggy forests from the montane to alpine zones; common throughout BC; amphiberingian, N to AK, YT and NT, E to AB and S to SD, NM, AZ and CA; Japan.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Juncus columbianus Coville
Juncus mertensianus subsp. mertensianus
Juncus mertensianus var. columbianus (Coville) F.J. Herm.
Juncus slwookoorum S.B. Young