Juncus bufonius
L. Toad RushTufted or single-stemmed annual. Culms erect, 1–30 cm high. Leaves basal and cauline, shorter than or exceeding the culms; blade flat or channelled, solid, 0.5–1.2 mm wide, acute or subacute; sheath ± tinged red toward the base; auricles absent. Inflorescence usually at least half the height of the plant, flowers borne singly along the spike-like branches, or in 2–8-flowered clusters; primary bract erect or spreading, channelled, longer or shorter than the inflorescence; prophylls present. Tepals unequal, with a green ± reddish tinged midrib and pale membranous margins; outer 3–7.5(–12) mm long, acuminate with excurved apices; inner shorter than outer, acute to acuminate; stamens 3–6. Capsules ± reddish in the upper part, oblong, 2.2–4 mm long, sub-acute to obtuse and shortly mucronate, shorter than tepals; seeds c. 0.3–0.5 mm long, with very fine longitudinal and transverse ridges discernible at high magnification, minutely apiculate at one or both ends. Flowers sporadically, but mostly Oct.–Jan., seeds shed mostly Nov.–Mar.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. All States. Cosmopolitan. A widely distributed annual found in permanently or seasonally damp areas in a range of vegetation communities. Frequently occurs in crops and gardens.
Recognized here as one extremely variable species, but several taxa may ultimately be distinguished. Some forms may be introduced.
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.
Spinning
