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Juncus effusus L. subsp. solutus (Fernald & Wiegand)Hämet-Ahti
Soft Rush
Lamp Rush
Eastern Soft Rush
Florida native
A frequent rush of marshes, pond margins and other wet open areas in most of Florida, but not found in the most southeastern counties or the Keys. The native range of this subspecies extends throughout the eastern United States, west into eastern Texas and north into Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland.
Soft rush forms bright-green tussocks of 0.6-1.2m (2 to 4 ft.) tall stems that are filled with a pith and are easily compressible - hence the common name - as opposed to the tough wiry stems of some other rushes. The inflorescence grows in a tight cluster partway up the stem, as do other members of the section Genuini, of which Juncus effusus is the most common species. This plant is leafless, although leaf-like reddish sheaths wrap around the base of the stems.
Juncus effusus is a member of the Juncaceae - Rush family.
Other species of the Juncus genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Juncus megacephalus - BIGHEAD RUSH
Juncus roemerianus - NEEDLE RUSH
Juncus scirpoides - NEEDLEPOD RUSH
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Apr 08, 2024
