Juncus megacephalus
Bighead rush in IRB, Florida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Juncaceae
Genus: Juncus
Species:
J. megacephalus
Binomial name
Juncus megacephalus
Synonyms[1]
  • Juncus scirpoides var. carolinianus Coville
  • Juncus scirpoides var. echinatus Engelm.

Juncus megacephalus, the bighead rush, is a plant species native to the United States. It is known from every seacoast state from Texas to Maryland, as well as Massachusetts, growing in freshwater marshes, sand dunes, and disturbed sites at elevations less than 100 meters (330 ft).[2][3]

Juncus megacephalus is a perennial herb spreading by means of underground rhizomes. Erect stems are round in cross-section, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in diameter, up to 110 cm (43 in) tall. Leaves are up to 24 cm (9.4 in) long. Inflorescence is a panicle of up to 20 heads. Each head is spherical, about 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter, with about 50 flowers. Flowers are straw-colored, about 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter. [2][4][5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ Tropicos
  2. ^ a b Flora of North America v 22
  3. ^ Gleason, H. A. & A.J. Cronquist. 1968. The Pteridophytoa, Gymnospermae and Monocotyledoneae. 1: 1–482. In H. A. Gleason. New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, New York.
  4. ^ Curtis, Moses Ashley. 1835. Boston Journal of Natural History 1: 132.
  5. ^ Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
  6. ^ Gleason, H. A. & A.J. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (ed. 2) i–910. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.
  7. ^ Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide Vascular Plants of Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
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