14. Juncus interior Wiegand (inland rush)
Pl.
93 a, b; Map 371
Aerial stems 15–70 cm tall, caespitose, lacking noticeable rhizomes. Leaves 3–6,
all basal, 1 or 2 of them sometimes lacking leaf blades, the auricles at the
top of the sheaths 0.5–1.0 mm long, loose, white, papery, rounded, the leaf
blades 10–30 cm long, 1/3–1/2 the height of the aerial stem, 0.5–1.0 mm wide,
folded longitudinally, or with the edges rolled toward the middle, lacking
cross-partitions. Inflorescences condensed or less commonly diffuse panicles,
the branches mostly flexuous and ascending, the longest leaflike bract at the
base usually longer than the inflorescence. Flowers mostly occurring singly or
in loose clusters of 2–6 near the branch tips, 20–70 per inflorescence, each
with a pair of small, ovate to triangular, attenuate, closely subtending
bracts. Perianth 3.0–4.5 mm long, the sepals as long as or slightly longer than
the petals, lanceolate, the tips attenuate. Stamens 6 per flower. Fruits
3.0–4.5 mm long, slightly shorter than the perianth, ovate to obovate in
outline, the tip usually broadly rounded, 1-locular with 3 incomplete
cross-walls protruding about halfway to the middle of the fruit. Seeds 0.3–0.5
mm long, both ends abruptly tapered to darkened points. 2n=80.
May–August.
Scattered throughout the state, but uncommon in the Mississippi Lowlands
Division (Ohio and Tennessee west to Montana and New Mexico, Canada). Dry to
mesic upland prairies, savannas, glades, pastures, railroads, and open,
disturbed areas, on various substrates.