Juncus sarophorus L.A.S.Johnson APNI*
Description: Strongly rhizomatous perennial. Culms terete, 55–170 cm long, 1.3–3.2 mm diam., hard, grey-green to blue-green, subglaucous; culm striations 20–40; pith interrupted, rarely partly continuous.
Cataphylls 13–40 cm long, ± lax, abaxially dark yellow-brown to dark red-brown or blackish at base, adaxially golden brown to coppery.
Inflorescence pseudolateral, diffuse, 6–15 cm long; floowers numerous, loosely clustered to solitary; lowest involucral bract 15–30 cm long, longer than inflorescence. Tepals straw-brown, occasionally red-brown along midrib, with broad hyaline margins; outer tepals 1.6–2.5 mm long, longer than inner tepals. Stamens 3, shorter than outer tepals; anthers 0.3–0.6 mm long.
Capsule slightly shorter than to longer than outer tepals, narrow-ovoid to ellipsoid, obtuse, not or scarcely apiculate, golden brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: South from Ebor on tablelands, extending west to Wellington district and Albury, and on the southern part of the SC. Widespread in damp and swampy situations.
NSW subdivisions: SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A.
Culms have somewhat sunken stomates (as seen in cross-section) and widely spaced longitudinal striations. The outer tepals particularly long, narrow apices, as do those of J. australis.
Text by K. L. Wilson, L. A. S. Johnson & P. Bankoff (1993); edited KL Wilson (July 2016) 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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