Bulbous rush
Juncus bulbosus · Aquatic plants
Whole plant · Photo: Thomas Gyselinck / CC BY
Also called Bulbous rush (aquatic form), Juncus bulbosus
How to identify Bulbous rush
- Fine, threadlike leaves in tufts
- Often fully submersed and reddish
- Swollen bulb like stem base
- Small flower heads that sprout plantlets
Similar plants
Needle spikerush has unjointed stems and no swollen base; quillworts have stiff hollow leaves.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Grows from spring through fall and can stay green underwater all year. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | Cool water, about 45 F |
| Light | Tolerates moderate light |
| Depth | Shoreline to about 10 feet of water |
| How it spreads | Seeds, plantlets from flower heads and stem fragments |
| Habitat | Soft water lakes and ponds with acidic, low nutrient water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Non native in the region. Elsewhere it has formed dense underwater mats in soft water lakes.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Not recorded
- Oregon: Rare
- Wyoming: Not recorded
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Juncaceae |
| Scientific name | Juncus bulbosus |
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Baltic rushNeed a hand?
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