Juncus novae-zelandiae
Common names
dwarf rush
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Rushes & Allied Plants
Flower colours
Brown, Yellow
Detailed description
Densely tufted, arising from along, ascending rhizome, usually forming large patches, rarely diffuse. Stems 20–150 × 0.5–1.0 mm, heavily branched, creeping and rooting freely at nodes. Leaves numerous, both basal and cauline, stems, 0.2–0.8 mm wide, narrow-linear, compressed, almost filiform, septate; sheath ⅓–½ length of lamina, membranous, with 2 obtuse auricles. Inflorescence a single terminal head of 3–5 flowers, very rarely composed of 2–3 branchlets, each terminated by a fascicle of flowers; subtending bract > or » inflorescence. Flowers 2–3 mm long, outer tepals acute or acuminate, centrally straw-coloured, reddish brown toward the margins, the inner obtuse, greenish brown with broad, hyaline, membranous margin. Stamens 6, equal to or slightly > tepals in length. Capsule up to 3 mm long, usually » tepals, oblong-ovoid, mucronulate, pale at first but soon becoming black, surface lustrous.
Similar taxa
Most likely to be confused with J. antarcticus and J. pusillus. From J. antarcticus (with which it may grow) it differs by having septate rather than non-septate leaves, red or greenish brown rather than dark maroon to black tepals and consistently 6 rather than 3-6 stamens. From J. pusillus it differs by the lustrous black rather than dull pale brown capsules, and stems which are usually > than the leaves at maturity (in J. pusillus the fruiting stems can appear almost sessile, and are often hidden amongst the leaves).
Distribution
Endemic. North Island from Te Moehau south, South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura.
Habitat
Mostly montane to alpine but descending to sea level in more southerly stations. Usually found in open places in mires or in damp peaty turf, rarely in or near running water.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – these interim threat classification statuses has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Juncaceae
Synonyms
Verojuncus novae-zelandiae (Hook.f.) Záveská Drábková & Proćków
Taxonomic notes
Proćków et al. (2023) proposed a taxonomic segregation of Juncus into six genera based on molecular and morphological evidence. Whilst it has long been recognised that the current circumscription of Juncus includes morphologically divergent taxa—reflected in the recognition of numerous subgenera and sections—the consensus view of the NZPCN website taxonomy subcommittee, taking into consideration advice from Australian Juncus expert Dr Karen Wilson (NSW Herbarium) and others in Europe is that the generic segregations proposed need further consideration and testing. Accordingly, it has been decided to maintain the current broad circumscription of Juncus, but to include all new names as synonyms in factsheets. We thank, in particular, Dr Wilson for her helpful comments.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October– December
Fruiting
November–July
Life cycle and dispersal
Mucilaginous seeds are dispersed by attachment, wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed, rooted pieces and by the division of whole plants. Best grown in a partially submerged pot.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACW: Facultative Wetland
Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
juncus: From the Latin jungere ‘to tie or bind’, the stems of some species being used to make cord (Johnson and Smith)
novae-zelandiae: Of New Zealand
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
JUNNOV
Chromosome number
2n = 40
Previous conservation statuses
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Johnson, A. T. and Smith, H. A. 1986. Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd, Buckenhill, UK.
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.
Proćków, J., Záveská Drábková, L. 2023. A revision of the Juncaceae with delimitation of six new genera: nomenclatural changes in Juncus. Phytotaxa 622(1): 17–41.
Thorsen, M.J.; Dickinson, K.J.M.; Seddon, P.J. 2009: Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (1 September 2006). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1970).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Juncus novae-zelandiae Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/juncus-novae-zelandiae/ (Date website was queried)