Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Juncus articulatus L.

Family

Juncaceae

Common Names

jointed rush, jointleaf rush, juncus

Origin

Native to Europe, the Azores, the Madeira Islands, the Canary Islands, north-western Africa (i.e. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), western Asia, north-western Mongolia, the Indian Sub-continent (i.e. Bhutan, northern India, Nepal and Pakistan) and North America (i.e. southern Alaska, Canada and the USA).

Naturalised Distribution

Jointed rush (Juncus articulatus) is widely naturalised in southern and eastern Australia. It is common and widespread in eastern New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and south-eastern South Australia. Occasionally naturalised in south-eastern Queensland, inland New South Wales, south-western Western Australia and other parts of South Australia.

Also naturalised on Norfolk Island and in South Africa and New Zealand.

Notes

Jointed rush (Juncus articulatus) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. It grows along the margins of drains, irrigation channels, creeks, rivers and in wetlands, moist pastures and soakage areas. This species prefers wetter habitats that are characterised by long periods of constant water depths, and relatively short periods of flooding or drought. It can form dense mats of vegetation and is a strong competitor with native species.