Juncus thompsonianus

Long-rhizomatous, sward-forming perennial. Culms erect or decumbent, new shoots often arising from nodes and creeping stems, to c. 3 cm high. Leaves arising from culms and creeping stems; blade hollow, with inconspicuous transverse septa, usually longer than culms, terete or slightly compressed, c. 0.3–0.7(–1) mm wide, apex acute; auricles acute or obtuse, to c. 0.5 mm long. Inflorescence a single cluster (rarely with a second cluster) composed of 1–3 flowers, to c. 3 mm wide in fruit; primary bract longer than inflorescence; prophylls absent. Tepal midrib green (occasionally reddish tinged) when young, margins broad, membranous; outer tepals 1.8–2.3 mm long, ovate, acute; inner slightly longer and narrower than outer, acute or obtuse; stamens 6, anthers 0.5–0.8 mm long. Capsules pale golden brown, ovoid, c. 2.3–2.5 mm long, slightly exceeding tepals at maturity, contracted rather abruptly to an acuminate apex; seeds 0.5–0.7 mm long, finely reticulate-patterned at moderately high magnification, minutely apiculate at each end. Flowers probably Nov.–Jan., seeds shed Dec.–Mar.