Juncus acutus L.

Spice In the field

Family: JUNCACEAE

Genus: Juncus

Catalan common name: Jonc marí.

Spanish common name: Junco redondo.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils.

Characteristics: This is the classic coastal lagoon rush that forms large dense bush clusters with prickly leaves and stems. Differs from Juncus maritimus by its compact inflorescence and capsular fruits, the latter clearly much larger than its sepals. (Be careful with subsp. tommasinii, it has small capsules!) Additionally, Juncus maritimus is rhizotomous, usually growing in lawns and its inflorescence is very lax.