Juncus scheuchzerioides
Synonyms
Juncus inconspicuus D Urv., J. scheuchzerioides var. inconspicuus (D Urv.) Hook.f.
Family
Juncaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Rushes & Allied Plants
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, SO
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, SO
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: SO
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Indigenous. Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell Islands. Also Macquarie, Falkland, South Georgia, Marion, Crozet and Kerguelen Islands. Present in South America
Habitat
Sea level to 300 m a.s.l. Usually in or near running water or in open peaty turf.
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).
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Features
Densely tufted, dark green, red green or bright green perennial. Stems 20-200 x 0.2-0.5 mm. erect, densely branched from base, often creeping. Basal nodes sending out fibrous roots. Leaves numerous, basal and cauline, 10-200 x 0.5-1.0 mm, » stems, herbaceous, narrow-linear, compressed, transversely septate, pale green, red green or bright green, leaf apex acute; sheath long, membranous, bearing two obtuse auricles. Inflorescence a simple compact head of 2-8 flowers, very rarely producing a second head. Flowers 4 mm long, tepals more or less equal, the outer acuminate, the inner ovate-oblong, obtuse or shortly acuminate, light green or light brown. Stamens 6, more or less equal in length to tepals. Capsules < or > tepals, ovoid, shortly mucronate, light brown or red-brown.
Similar taxa
Could be confused with J. pusillus Buch. which also grows on the Auckland Islands with J. scheuchzerioides. Juncus pusillus differs in terete rather than compressed leaves; flowers 1.5-3.0 mm rather than c.4 mm long; and leaves which are < rather than > 0.5 mm long. It is usually a dark brown or red-brown rather than pale green, red-green to to bright green colour.
Flowering
December - April
Flower colours
Brown, Green
Fruiting
February - July
Life cycle
Mucilaginous seeds are dispersed by attachment, wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Not known from cultivation
Threats
A naturally uncommon species, common within its limited geographic range
Etymology
juncus: From the Latin jungere ‘to tie or bind’, the stems of some species being used to make cord (Johnson and Smith)
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (1 September 2006). Description based on Moore & Edgar (1970).
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.
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
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Juncus scheuchzerioides Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/juncus-scheuchzerioides/ (Date website was queried)