Juncus patens
{{Short description|Species of rush}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Juncus patens - Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley, CA - DSC04582.JPG
|genus = Juncus
|species = patens
|authority = E.Mey.
}}
Juncus patens is a species of rush, known by the common names spreading rush and California grey rush.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000165 Flora of North America: Juncus patens]
It is native to the West Coast of the United States from Washington to California, and into Baja California, Mexico.[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=JUPA2 USDA]
It grows at seeps, springs, and riparian zones in stream beds and on river and pond banks, in marshes, and in other moist habitats.[http://www.eol.org/pages/631134 Encyclopedia of Life: Juncus patens]; C.Michael Hogan ed. 2010.
Description
Juncus patens is a perennial herb forming narrow, erect bunches of stems. It grows up to {{convert|3|ft|m}} in height by {{convert|1|-|2|ft|m}} in width.[https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/juncus-patens Las Pilitas Database: Juncus patens (Common Rush)] It spreads by rhizomes, which can increase a colonies width substantially.
The stems are thin, gray-green, often somewhat waxy, and grooved, and grow {{convert|30|-|90|cm|in}} in height.
The inflorescence sprouts from the side of the stem, rather than its tip. It holds many flowers, each of which has short, narrow, pointed tepals and six stamens. It flowers in the summer.
The fruit is a spherical red or brown capsule which fills and bulges from the dried flower remnants when mature. The seeds attract birds.
Cultivation
Juncus patens is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use in traditional and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping design, and in habitat restoration projects.[http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Juncus_patens California Natives Wiki: Juncus patens] — Theodore Paune Foundation horticulture database.[https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=892 San Marcos Growers database: Juncus patens homepage] Its tall narrow form fits into narrow garden beds and planters adjacent to walkway walls, and in container planting.Harlow, Nora and Kristin Jakob; Wild Lilies, Irises, and Grasses: Gardening with California Monocots; Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA; University of California Press; 2003. Despite its moist habitat origins, it can be very drought-tolerant when established.Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien; California Native Plants for the Garden; Los Olivos, CA; Cachuma Press; 2005.
In sustainable gardening and sustainable landscaping, Juncus patens is used in rain gardens and phytoremediation swales and intermittent ponds.
=Cultivars=
Cultivars of Juncus patens, selected for blue and/or gray foliage emphasis, include:
- Juncus patens 'Carman's Grey' — Carmen's California Gray Rush, steely blue-gray.[http://www.boethingtreeland.com/juncus-patens-carmen-s-gray.html Boething Treeland Farms: Juncus patens 'Carmen's Gray']
- Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' — Elk Blue California Gray Rush, blue-gray.[https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#safe=off&q=Juncus+patens+garden San Marcos Growers database: Juncus patens 'Elk Blue']
- Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue' — Occidental Blue California Gray Rush, gray-green.[https://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=3835 Annies Annuals database: Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue' (Blue Leaved Rush)][http://www.reddingwatersmart.com/eplant.php?plantnum=194&return=b_aJ Redding Water Smart Juncus patens 'Occidental Blue']
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|position=left}}
- [https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8238,8239,8296 Jepson Manual Treatment of 'Juncus patens]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Juncus+patens Juncus patens — U.C. Photo gallery]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6311890}}
Category:Flora of Baja California
Category:Flora of Washington (state)
Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
Category:Flora of the Klamath Mountains
Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
Category:Natural history of the Channel Islands of California
Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
Category:Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area
Category:Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
Category:Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
Category:Plants described in 1823
Category:Garden plants of North America