Juncus caespiticius E.Mey. APNI* 
Description: Tufted or shortly rhizomatous perennial. Culms terete to somewhat compressed, (rarely 10-) 20–55 cm long, 1–1.5 (occasionally to 5) mm diam.
Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat with involute margins, canaliculate near apex, 1–2 (occasionally to 2.5) mm wide, to 8 mm wide at base; auricles absent; sheath pale brown, occasionally with pinkish tinges.
Inflorescence terminal, diffuse or head-like, 2–5 cm long; flowers clustered at apex of branches, 2–25 per cluster and 1–20 clusters per inflorescence; involucral bracts 1 or 2, well-developed, 2–11 cm long, longer than or equalling inflorescence. Tepals evenly red-brown or straw-brown below, to blackish, rarely evenly straw-brown; outer tepals 1.5–3.0 mm long, shorter than or equalling (rarely slightly longer than) inner tepals, without hyaline margins; inner tepals with broad hyaline to white margins. Stamens 6, shorter than outer tepals; anthers 0.4–0.8 mm long.
Capsule shorter than to equalling outer tepals, ovoid to ellipsoid, obtuse, apiculate, dark golden brown to red-brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Usually grows in damp, sandy situations; south from Lake Munmorah.
NSW subdivisions: CC, SC
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
Text by K. L. Wilson, L. A. S. Johnson & P. Bankoff (1993); edited KL Wilson (Nov 2022)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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