Juncus mollis L.A.S.Johnson APNI* Synonyms: Juncus sp. X sensu Jacobs & Pickard (1981) APNI*
Description: Strongly rhizomatous perennial. Culms terete, 85–145 cm long, 2.1–4.0 mm diam., soft, mid-green; culm striations 38–70; pith very interrupted.
Cataphylls 14–27 cm long, tight, abaxially yellow-brown to pink-brown to black at base, adaxially silvery to coppery.
Inflorescence pseudolateral, diffuse, 7–15 cm long; flowers numerous, solitary; lowest involucral bract 15–30 cm long, longer than inflorescence. Tepals straw-brown, with broad hyaline margins; outer tepals 1.7–2.2 mm long, longer than or equalling inner tepals. Stamens 3 (rarely to 6), shorter than outer tepals; anthers 0.4–0.7 mm long.
Capsule longer than outer tepals, ovoid to obovoid, obtuse, not or scarcely apiculate, golden brown to dark golden brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Coastal districts from Tumbulgum south to Tilba. Usually grows in swamp-forests, especially Melaleuca swamps, or occasionally areas cleared from them, in very wet situations subject to seasonal drying out.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: ?Qld
Hybridizes occasionally with J. polyanthemus and J. usitatus, chiefly in cleared areas. Culms are softer than in those two species.
Text by K. L. Wilson, L. A. S. Johnson & P. Bankoff (1993); edited KL Wilson (Aug 2024)
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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