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| ## basket rush {#basket-rush .Title-Header}                           |
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| *Juncus textilis* Buch.                                               |
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| Plant Symbol = JUTE2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

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# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Coiled basketry prevails in Southern California, with
the mottled yellowish brown of *Juncus* *textilis* providing a natural
colored and variegated background (Turnbaugh and Turnbaugh 1986).
*Juncus* stems are used in the coiled baskets of Southern California
basketweavers such as the Cahuilla, Luiseño, Chumash, Diegueño, Agua
Caliente, Gabrieliño, Juaneño, Death Valley Shoshone, and Fernandeno
(Barrows 1967; Murphey 1959). Chumash baskets, from southern California,
are made with *Juncus* stems for the tan color and roots for the black
color (Timbrook 1997). The sewing material is made of *Juncus textilis*
and the foundation material is made of *Juncus balticus*.

Rushes are cut off at ground level, or at the length desired. The rush,
in its natural state, furnishes a variety of colors; a deep red near the
base, lightening in color upwards passing through several shades of
light brown, and ending at the top in a brownish yellow. *Juncus* stems
can be bleached in the summer sun for several months to assure a light
tan uniform

color. According to some Diegueño basket weavers, the deep brick-red
color found in many mission baskets was obtained from *Juncus* species
harvested in the higher elevations, 3,000 feet or above, and in canyons
usually under sycamores or willow trees (Moser 1993). The red color
occurs under the leaf thatch or blanketing vegetation mat and varies
from several inches to nearly 12 inches in length at the base of the
*Juncus* stalk, and is often used alone as a design
element.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.1465277777777776in"
height="3.0506944444444444in"}

The Cahuilla, Diegeño, Luiseño, and Chumash dye the mature rushes black
by steeping them for several hours in an infusion of either horned
sea-blite (*Suaeda calceoliformis* ) or bush seepweed (*Suaeda
moquinii*). This dye is very penetrating, and the color is durable, but
has a fetid, disagreeable smell. *Juncus* species are also dyed yellow
in an infusion of indigo bush (*Psorothamnus emoryi*) (Barrows 1967;
Merrill 1970).

*Juncus* stalks can be harvested throughout the year. Preparation for
basket weaving involves splitting each rush stalk into three equal
portions. The base of the reed is split using either a thumbnail or
pocket knife, then one piece is grasped in the teeth and one in each
hand and equal pressure is applied. One Digeño basket weaver describes a
point about half way through the reed when the splitting starts to
\"stutter\" and feels like its going to break. At this point he throws
the remaining parts away. The pith is removed after soaking the plant in
water prior to weaving. The individual pieces are then trimmed to a
uniform thickness. The stems are soaked in water before using.

*Other Uses*: *Juncus* species are used by a wide range of mammal and
avian species for food and habitat (Hoag and Zierke 1998). Rush seeds
are eaten by waterfowl, songbirds, and small mammals such as
jackrabbits, cottontails, muskrats, porcupines, and gophers (Martin
1951). Rushes help improve habitat for amphibians and spawning areas for
fish. Muskrats feed on the roots and rhizomes, and various wetland
wading birds find shelter among the stems.

Rushes provide the following conservation uses: erosion control,
sediment accretion and stabilization, nutrient uptake and
transformation, wildlife food and cover, restoration and creation of
wetland ecosystems, and wastewater treatment applications. The
rhizomatous nature, nitrogen fixation capabilities, dense root system,
and phenotypic plasticity to flooding and drought stress provide high
soil and slope stabilization capabilities, particularly in areas with
flooded soils or fluctuating hydrology. The rhizomes form a matrix for
many beneficial bacteria, making this plant an excellent addition for
wastewater treatment. Rushes tend to be resistant to grazing pressure
and fairly unpalatable to cattle, so tend to increase in species
composition in stock water ponds and troughs. Basket rush is useful for
stabilization and revegetation of disturbed areas.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Rush Family (Juncaceae). Basket rush is a perennial,
rhizomatous wetland plant. It is a grasslike, usually tufted herb 10-20
dm tall, with stout, rigid, pale green culms. The leaf sheaths are
terete, clustered at the base, 2-15 cm long, multi-colored from red to
tan to dark brown, and bladeless. The inflorescence forms a lax panicle
with many flowers. The brown, oblong-ovoid capsule is as long as or
slightly shorter than the perianth, and contains many seeds. *Juncus
textilis* is closely related to *Juncus balticus*; basket rush can be
distinguished from baltic rush by its much stouter habit, its paler
green stems, and its somewhat larger, more numerous-flowered panicle.
The stems of *Juncus textilis* are more woody in texture, retain their
terete shape when dried, and do not tend to flatten as do those of
*Juncus balticus*. From this description of their growth forms, it is
obvious why *Juncus textilis* is used for the sewing material and
*Juncus balticus* is compressed inside the coils of baskets.

# Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. *Juncus textilis* grows in marshy areas
and along streams below an elevation of 1800 m. Basket rush grows in
coastal and montane southern California, north to San Luis Obispo and
Kern Counties. Often these plants are found on drier or seasonally
fluctuating wetland sites (for example, desert playas) and can tolerate
both seasonal drought and flooding.

# Establishment

*Juncus* species may be planted from bare rootstock or seedlings from
container stalk or directly seeded into the soil. Bare rootstock or
seedlings are preferred revegetation methods where there is moving
water.

*Live Plant Collections*: The following information on *Juncus balticus*
is provided by J. Chris Hoag and Mike Zierke (USDA, NRCS, Plant
Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho). Due to their taxonomic and habitat
similarity, it is likely that *Juncus textilis* establishes in a similar
manner. Planting plugs is the surest way to establish a new stand of
this species. Plug spacing of 25-30 cm will fill in within one growing
season. Fluctuating the water level during the establishment period may
speed the spread of *Juncus*. Water levels can be managed to enhance
spread and control weeds.

Clip leaves and stems to 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) before planting;
this allows the plant to allocate more energy into root production.
Transplants should be planted as soon as possible in moist (not flooded
or anoxic) soils. Plants should be transported and stored in a cool
location prior to planting. The roots should always remain moist or in
water until planted.

Ideally, plants should be planted in late fall just after the first
rains (usually late October to November). Survival is highest when
plants are dormant and soils are moist. Soil should be kept saturated
after planting. Plants can tolerate 2.5 - 8 cm of standing water as long
as the level fluctuates over the growing season. Allow roots to become
established before flooding soils if possible. Fertilization is very
helpful for plant growth and reproduction. Many more seeds are produced
with moderate fertilization.

## *Seed Collections*: The flowering period is late May to August, occasionally to September. Seed ripens in early August. Phenology will change by area, aspect, elevation, and specific site conditions.

-   Seed may be collected by hand, using a pair of hand shears, or with
    a gas-powered handheld seed harvester.

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-   The tiny, black seeds are easily lost from the capsules when
    collecting by hand. Be careful to keep capsules upright before
    putting in collection bag. Use paper sacks when collecting seeds for
    this species.

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-   To clean the seed, run the collection through a hammer mill to break
    up debris and knock the seeds loose. Use a 1/20 inch screen on the
    top and a solid sheet on the bottom of the seed cleaner. Adjust the
    air flow to blow off the chaff. The cleaning process can be speeded
    up by shaking the hammer milled collection to settle seed to the
    bottom of the pan. The top portion of the chaff can then be
    discarded and the seed-rich mixture that is left in the bottom can
    be run through the seed cleaner.

## *Seed germination in greenhouse*:

-   Seeds need light, moisture and heat for germination. Soaking the
    seeds in water for 1 - 7 days will decrease the time the seed takes
    to sprout.

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-   To grow seeds, place on soil surface and press in lightly to assure
    good soil contact. Do not cover the seed. Soil should be kept moist.
    Greenhouse should be kept hot (32-38°C).

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-   Seeds begin to germinate in approximately 1 week. Maintain soil
    moisture until plants are to be transplanted. Seedlings cannot
    withstand long periods without water while growing in the
    greenhouse.

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-   Plants are ready in 100 - 120 days to come out as plugs. By planting
    seeds in August, plugs are ready to plant in soil by November. These
    plants are very small; growing plants to a larger size will result
    in increased revegetation success.

# Management

Hydrology is the most important factor in determining wetland type,
revegetation success, and wetland function and value. Changes in water
levels influence species composition, structure, and distribution of
plant communities. Water management is absolutely critical during plant
establishment, and remains crucial through the life of the wetland for
proper community management (Hoag et al. 1995). *Juncus* species can
tolerate periods of drought and total inundation. It is important to
keep transplanted plugs moist, not flooded, until roots are established.
Water levels can then be managed to either enhance or reduce spread as
well as control terrestrial weeds.

*Juncus* species tend to be fairly resilient to insect and disease
problems. Aphids may feed on the stems, but rarely cause significant
damage. If an insect or disease problem is encountered in the
greenhouse, treatment options may be limited by cultural constraints if
these plants are to be used by Indian basket weavers. *Juncus* culms are
split with the mouth to process basketry materials; therefore, an
unusually high degree of human exposure and risk occur with plants
designated for ethnobotanic use. Rushes are perennial, rhizomatous
plants. In most cases, they will out-compete other species within the
wetland area of the site, eliminating the need for manual or chemical
control of invasive species.

*Traditional Resource Management*: Management of *Juncus textilis*
stands includes the following: ownership of prime basket rush sites,
stimulation of new growth through harvesting stalks, periodic burning,
and not harvesting when soils are very mucky and likely to be compacted.
According to one Northern Diegueño basket weaver, most weavers have
favorite collecting areas where the basket rush is plentiful and having
characteristics valued by basket weavers (long, flexible, tough stems,
deep red color, access is available and relatively easy). Any *Juncus*
stand will have immature plants, mature but still in seed, and those
starting to senesce. The stalks are cut above the rhizomes and roots,
leaving plenty of buds to re-grow new shoots. As with other rhizomatous
species, harvesting stimulates new growth and maintains the clone in a
juvenile or immature growth phase, where productivity is highest. The
only harvesting prohibition might be during times of heavy rain or
flooding, when deep water and mud make many plants inaccessible.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

# References

Abrams, L. & R.S. Ferris 1960. *Illustrated flora of the Pacific
states*. 4 Vols. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California.

Hickman, J.C. (ed.) 1993. *The Jepson manual. Higher plants of
California*. University of California Press. 1399 pp.

Hoag, J.C. n.d. *Wetland plant fact sheet - baltic rush (Juncus
balticus)*. Interagency Riparian/Wetland Project. USDA, NRCS, Plant
Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 3 pp.

Hoag, J.C. & M. Zierke (February) 1998. *A reference guide for the
collection and use of ten common wetland plants of the Great Basin and
Intermountain West*. Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 13.
USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 13 pp.

Hoag, J.C. & M.E. Sellers (April) 1995. *Use of greenhouse propagated
wetland plants versus live transplants to vegetate constructed or
created wetlands*. Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 7.
USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 6 pp.

Hurd, E.G., N.L. Shaw, & L.C. Smithman 1992. *Cyperaceae and Juncaceae -
selected low-elevation species*. Proceedings of Symposium of Ecology,
Management, and Restoration of Intermountain Annual Rangelands, Boise,
Idaho. May 18-22, 1992. Pages 380-383.

Manning, M.E., S.R. Swanson, T. Svejcar, & J. Trent 1989. *Rooting
characteristics of four Intermountain meadow community types*. Journal
of Range Management 42(4):309-312.

Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951. *American wildlife and
plants: A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, New York. 500 pp.

Merrill, R.E. 1970. *Plants used in basketry by the California Indians*.
Acoma Books, Ramona, California.

Moser, C.L. 1993. *Native American basketry of southern California*.
Riverside Museum Press. 155 pp.

Murphy, E.V.A. 1959. *Indian uses of native plants*. Mendocino County
Historical Society. 81 pp.

Strike, S.S. 1994. *Ethnobotany of the California Indians. Volume 2.
Aboriginal uses of California\'s indigenous plants*. Koeltz Scientific
Books, USA/Germany. 210 pp.

Timbrook, J. (June) 1997. *California Indian Basketweavers Association
newsletter*.

Turnbaugh, S.P. & W.A. Turnbaugh 1986. *Indian baskets*. Schiffler
Publishing, Ltd., West Chester, Pennsylvania. Pages 194-205.

# Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

# Species Coordinator

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 21may03 ahv; 060801 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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