Juncaceae

Tufted or rhizomatous perennial or occasionally annual herbs (in Australian species). Leaves mostly basal; blades flat, channelled, terete or reduced to a mucro surmounting the leaf-sheaths, solid or hollow with internal septa. Inflorescence mainly of cymes contracted into 1–many ± stalked clusters or expanded into panicles, terminal or appearing lateral to the primary (lowest) bract. Flowers small, bisexual or rarely unisexual and plants dioecious; tepals glumaceous, free, in two whorls of three; stamens 3–6, anthers basifixed, opposite and attached to the base of the tepals, pollen shed in tetrads; ovary superior, 1- or 3-locular; style single, usually short, stigmas 3. Fruit a capsule dehiscing loculicidally; seeds 3–many; embryo straight and embedded in a starchy endosperm.