Juncus ensifolius

Rhizomatous perennial, sometimes loosely tufted. Culms erect or decumbent, to 65 cm high. Leaves basal and cauline, basal leaves much shorter than culms, cauline leaves longer or shorter than culms; blade hollow, with several longitudinal tubes, the individual tubes transversely and imperfectly septate, distinctly compressed, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, apex acute; auricles absent; sheaths with membranous margin. Inflorescence of 1–2(–10) clusters, each cluster composed of c. 3–70 flowers, 0.8–1.1 mm wide in fruit; primary bracts erect, shorter than inflorescence; prophylls absent. Tepal midrib chestnut-brown, margins very narrow, often not distinct; outer tepals (2.4–)2.7–3.2(–3.6) mm long, acuminate; inner subequal or slightly shorter than outer, acute; stamens 3, anthers 0.5–0.7 mm long. Capsules dark brown or dark chestnut-brown, trigonous-ovoid, 2.5–3.2 mm long, usually exceeding, or ± equal to tepals, subacute and shortly mucronate; seeds 0.45–0.60 mm long, distinctly reticulate-patterned discernible at moderately high magnification, minutely apiculate at each end.