A tufted, leafless perennial rush with cylindrical, green, pithy stems.
Description:
Cotyledons:
One.
Leaves:
No leaves.
Leaf sheaths pale or shiny dark brown or pink-brown toward base, straw coloured and loose toward apex, up to 180 mm long. Stomata superficial.
Stems:
Green, 350-1200 mm long by 0.75-1.6 mm diameter, cylindrical, pithy, 25-40 stripes, usually interrupted. Pointed. Rhizomes. The pith is ladder like with transverse spaces about the same size as the solid pithy parts.
Flower stem - Fertile stems less than 1.6 mm diameter, pithy.
Flower head:
Loose panicle. Flowers evenly spaced along the branchlets of the inflorescence.
Flowers:
Pale.
Perianth - Outer segments 1-3.2 mm long, pointed and much shorter than the mature capsule. Inner segments slightly shorter, obtuse tip initially becoming acute as broad membranous edges wither.
Stamens -
Anthers -
Fruit:
Ellipsoid capsule. 1.8-2.4 mm long. Longer than perianth segments.
Seeds:
Roots:
Fibrous. Rhizomatous stems.
Key Characters:
Flowers evenly spaced along the branchlets of the inflorescence. Fertile stems less than 1.6 mm diameter. Outer tepals 1-3.2 mm long, pointed and much shorter than the mature capsule. Stomata superficial.
Biology:
Life cycle:
Perennial tussock.
Physiology:
Reproduction:
By seed and rhizomes.
Flowering times:
Mainly summer in western NSW.
Seed Biology and Germination:
Vegetative Propagules:
Rhizomes.
Hybrids:
Allelopathy:
Population Dynamics and Dispersal:
Spread by seed. Doesn't survive in deep water.
Origin and History:
Australian native. New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Distribution:
ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA.
Habitats:
Creek banks, edges of lakes. Usually close to the edge of the water.
Climate:
Temperate. Low altitudes.
Soil:
Wet and summer moist areas.
Plant Associations:
Significance:
Beneficial:
Detrimental:
Weed of pasture, irrigated areas, wetlands, irrigation channels and roadsides.
Toxicity:
Not recorded as toxic.
Legislation:
None.
Management and Control:
Mechanical removal. Mowing before inundation to allow water to enter stems and rot the base. Multiple ploughing with a heavy plough to uproot them. Herbicides such as glyphosate applied as a spot spray or by a wick applicator.
Thresholds:
Eradication strategies:
Herbicide resistance:
Biological Control:
Related plants:
Blunt flowered Rush (J. subnodulosus)
Bulbous Rush (J. bulbosus)
Dwarf Rush (J. capitatus)
Giant Rush (J. ingens)
Jointed Rush (J. articulatus)
Jointed Rush (J. holoschoenus)
Pale Rush (J. pallidus)
Sea Rush (J. kraussii)
Spiny Rush (J. acutus)
Toad rush (J. bufonius)
Tussock Rush (J. aridicola)
(J. effusus)
Plants of similar appearance:
References:
Auld, B.A. and Medd R.W. (1992). Weeds. An illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne). P30. Photo.
Burbidge, N.T. and Gray, M. (1970). Flora of the Australian Capital Territory. (Australian National University Press, Canberra). P97.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992). Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Melbourne). P180.
Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J. and Lloyd, S.G. (1997). Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. (Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia). P38.
Lamp, C. and Collet, F. (1990). A Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne).
Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #703.13.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.