Juncaceae

Abstract

Juncaceae, also called the rush family, in the order of Poales, is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants, consisting of 8 genera and about 464 known species, widely distributed in both hemispheres, mostly in temperate regions. Members of the Juncaceae are slow-growing, rhizomatous, herbaceous plants and may superficially resemble grasses and sedges, often growing on infertile soils in a wide range of moisture conditions. Plants are usually tufted, with rhizomes. Stems are erect and often cylindrical. Leaves are usually linear or filiform and occasionally reduced to bladeless. Flowers are bisexual, unisexual, and dioecious, usually basal 1- or 2-bracteolate, and arranged to cymose, corymbose, or paniculate. Perianth segments are six and occasionally three. Stamens are three or six. Filaments are thin. Anthers are 2-loculed and usually basifixed. Ovary is superior, 1- or 3-loculed. Ovules are three. Stigmas are three and papillose. Fruit is a capsule, loculicidal, and 1–3-valved. Seeds are minute with embryo straight and surrounded by endosperm. The most well-known and largest genus is Juncus, often growing exclusively in wetland habitats. Three species, belonging to Juncus genus, are illustrated in this chapter.