Juncaceae

Plant Sex: Flowers bisexual.

Flowers: Actinomorphic , 3-merous. Perianth of 3 similar sepals and petals that are scale-like (tepals). Like a lily with drab tepals.

Inflorescence: Panicles, corymbs, sometimes headlike.

Fruits: Loculicidal capsules. Seeds: Sometimes viviparous (germinate on mother plant prior to capsule dehiscence).

Habit: Annual and perennial herbs from a rhizome. Stems terete (round in cross section). Internodes with SEPTAE.

Leaves: 2- to many-ranked. Blade flat or terete or reduced to scales. Leaf base often with a sheath.

Examples:

Juncus (rush) - 22 Illinois species

J. interior. Habit of the plant. Closer view of flowering shoots. Young fruits. Infructescences.
J. effusus. Inflorescence.

Luzula

L. multiflora (wood rush). Flowering plant at Giant City State Park. Inflorescence. Flower face view and side view. Ovary X.S. Close-up of young fruits. Mature fruits.

SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture26Poales/Juncaceae.html
Last updated: 27-Apr-09 / dln