Juncus nevadensis var. inventus
Juncus nevadensis var. nevadensis

General:
Perennial herb from elongated rhizomes; stems arising singly or few together, erect, 20-75 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 short, rounded, ear-shaped lobes.

Flowers:
Inflorescence terminal, 3-12 cm long, with (3) 5 to 30, more or less globe-shaped heads, the heads each with many flowers, the branches few, erect; perianth segments dark brown, 3-4.5 mm long, lanceolate to short-awned, pointed, the inner about the same length as the outer; stamens 6; anthers 1-2 mm long, longer than the filaments; involucral bract shorter than inflorescence.

Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped to cylindrical, pointed, abruptly narrowed, shorter than the perianth segments; seeds barrel-like, about 0.4 mm long, lacking appendages.

Notes:
This is a variable species and several infraspecific taxa (often treated as distinct species) have been described from WA and OR.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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

Flower Colour:
Brown

Blooming Period:
Late Spring

Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer

Source:  The USDA

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Juncus columbianus