Juncus acutus


Juncus acutus, the spiny rush, sharp rush or sharp-pointed rush, is a flowering plant in the monocot family Juncaceae.
It grows in salt marshes and on dunes and is reliable for reducing erosion rates.
In some countries like Australia it is considered to be an invasive weed and the spines harmful to young children.

Synonyms

Juncus acutus is a brown and green
":wiktionary:tussock|tussocky"
perennial that can be to
tall in all kinds of soils,
in areas which go from extremes in flood and dry like dunes
or that just stay wet like lowland grassland and grassy woodland, riparian vegetation, freshwater wetland, and saline and subsaline wetlands.
;Stems and leaves: Pith filled stems and leaves arise from the base at different angles giving the plant a globe shape. The leaves form a basal sheath around the flower stem leaves and end with a stiff sharp point.
;Flowers: The flower stems are to in diameter and to long and are similar to the leaves. They emerge from the base at all angles and each have 1 - 6 flowers. Each flower has 6 stamens and to long bracts that terminate in a stiff and sharp point. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by the wind.
;Fruits and reproduction: Fruits are oval 3-celled brown capsules to. The to long brown seeds have a tail at each end.
;Roots: Short and robust rhizomes.

Distribution

Found principally in low-lying damp, low fertility areas like sandy sea shores and dune slacks and coastal flats, occasionally in salt marshes and disturbed saline areas, mine dumps, lowland grassland and grassy woodland, riparian vegetation, freshwater wetland, and saline and subsaline wetlands

Community species

Chemistry

The dimeric phenanthrenoid 8,8'-bidehydrojuncusol and the monomeric juncusol and dehydrojuncusol can be isolated from J. acutus.