Juncus pallescens
Lam.Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial. Culms erect, 15–65(–90) cm high. Leaves cauline and basal; blade hollow, with ± conspicuous transverse septa, very rarely exceeding the culms, compressed or terete, 1–4.5 mm wide, apex acute or obtuse; auricles obtuse, to c. 3.5 mm long. Inflorescence of 3–28 close or distant clusters, each composed of 4–15(–28) tightly aggregated flowers, 5–8(–10) mm wide in fruit; primary bract often without a blade-like lamina, shorter than the inflorescence; prophylls absent. Tepals curved, midrib broad, reddish-brown, margins pale, membranous; outer tepals 3–4.2(–4.8) mm long, acute-acuminate; inner subequal to outer, acute-acuminate; stamens 6, anthers 0.3–0.7 mm long. Capsules dark shiny brown at least near the apex, trigonous-ovoid, c. 2.2–3.3 mm long, shorter than tepals, apex broadly obtuse-truncate and mucronate; seeds c. 0.3–0.4 mm long x c. 0.2 mm wide, slightly asymmetrical, very fine longitudinal and transverse ridges discernible at moderately high magnification, minutely apiculate at one or both ends. Flowers predominantly Oct.–Dec., seeds shed mostly Nov.–Feb.
Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, HSF, OtR. Also naturalised NSW. Native to South America.
First collected in Victoria at Black Rock in 1940, this species appears to have spread considerably in recent years.
Easily confused with Juncus microcephalus (see note under that species). Juncus microcephalus has been previously been misapplied to this species in Victoria (Albrecht, 1994), however, the species was very recently discovered near Warburton. Also sometimes confused with J. articulatus and J. holoschoenus but differs from both in having obtuse, dark-topped capsules shorter than the tepals, and small seeds.
SpinningMisapplications
Albrecht, D.E. (1994). Juncus. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 197–233. Inkata Press, Melbourne.