Toad Rush

 

Scientific Name: Juncus bufonius L. 

Family: Juncaceae

 

MORPHOLOGY

 

Habit and dimensions: Annual herbaceous plant, ranging from 5 to 25 cm in height.

 

Stem: Robust herbaceous stem, leafy only in the lower part, forming dense tufts.

 

Leaves: Setaceous, filiform leaves (1mm), without transverse septa; sheaths without apical auricles.

 

Flowers: The inflorescence is a broad panicle with solitary flowers, each bearing a small bract at the base. Flowers are actinomorphic; the perianth is greenish and composed of 6 tepals (5-8 mm), unequal, appressed to the capsule. Blooms from March to September.

 

Fruits and seeds: The fruit is an ovoid loculicidal capsule, smaller than the tepals (3-5 mm); seeds are small with longitudinal stripes.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

 

Found throughout Italy along lakes, rivers, and watercourses, generally from sea level up to 1500m, but can extend up to 2400m.

 

Photo: Not subject to licensing by Saxifraga, Willem van Kruijsbergen, Rutger Barendse, Jasenka Topic.