Juncus planifolius R.Br. APNI*
Description: Tufted or with short vertical rhizome, annual or perennial. Culms terete to somewhat compressed, (occasionally 5) 13–60 cm long, 1.0–2.0 (rarely to 3.0) mm diam.
Leaves basal, shorter than or occasionally equalling culms; blade flat, 1.5–11 mm wide; auricles absent; sheath pale brown, often pinkish tinged.
Inflorescence terminal, diffuse or head-like, 2–12 cm long; flowers numerous, clustered at apex of branches, 5–30 per cluster and 3–20 (rarely to 70) clusters per inflorescence; involucral bract 1, well-developed, to 10 cm long, shorter than inflorescence. Tepals red-brown, mid-rib region often paler or occasionally tepals all straw-brown, with ± narrow hyaline margins; outer tepals 1.8–2.5 mm long, shorter than or equalling inner tepals; inner tepals often thickened near apex. Stamens 3, shorter than outer tepals; anthers 0.3–0.5 mm long.
Capsule longer than or occasionally equalling outer tepals, ellipsoid to narrow-ellipsoid, obtuse to broad-acute, apiculate, golden brown to red-brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread, from coastal districts west to the Pilliga Scrub. In moist, sandy situations.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
Occasionally proliferating from the flowers.
Text by K. L. Wilson, L. A. S. Johnson & P. Bankoff (1993); edited KL Wilson (July 2016, 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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