Click on images to enlarge
infestation in flower (Photo: Trevor James)
habit (Photo: Trevor James)
close-up of stem showing uninterrupted whitish pith (Photo: Trevor James)
close-up of flower buds (Photo: Trevor James)
immature fruit (Photo: Trevor James)
close-up of mature fruit (Photo: Trevor James)
close-up of seeds (Photo: Steve Hurst at USDA PLANTS Database)
stem of the native common rush (Juncus usitatus), showing its interrupted whitish pith (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Scientific Name
Juncus effusus L.
Family
Juncaceae
Common Names
bog rush, common rush, Japanese mat rush, lamp rush, rush, soft rush
Origin
This species is found throughout the temperate regions of the world. It is thought to be native to north-western Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), Europe, western Asia (i.e. Turkey) and North America (i.e. Alaska, Canada and the USA).
Naturalised Distribution
Widely naturalised in south-eastern Australia (i.e. naturalised in some parts of central and southern New South Wales, eastern Victoria, Tasmania and south-eastern South Australia). Also sparingly naturalised in south-eastern Queensland and possibly naturalised in south-western Western Australia.
Widely naturalised in other parts of the world, including temperate Asia, New Zealand, Mexico and Hawaii.
Notes
Soft rush (Juncus effusus) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria.