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| ## black needlerush {#black-needlerush .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Juncus roemerianus* Scheele                                          |
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| Plant Symbol = JURO                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program and USDA NRCS National
Plant Data Center:

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2916666666666665in" height="3.4375in"}

Larry Allain, NWRC, GS, USDI

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

black grass, Roemers rush, black rush, black needlegrass.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Dense stands of black needlerush form deep fibrous root systems, which
provide very good shoreline protection, filter suspended solids, uptake
nutrients, and facilitate substrate oxidation. With its range of
salinity tolerances, black needlerush is used in tidal estuary
restoration along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Seed and vegetative
parts of black needlerush are utilized by waterfowl, muskrats, nutria,
rice rat, marsh rabbit and non-game birds. More than 60 bird species use
black needlerush dominated marsh at least seasonally.

Ninety percent of the biomass of marsh plants, such as black needlerush,
is not consumed by herbivores. Instead, marsh plant biomass is
decomposed to microbial biomass. This microbial biomass is available to
primary consumers which initiate food webs leading to commercially
important fishes and crustaceans.

Black needlerush is commonly planted in constructed wetlands, which are
used for the treatment of dilute organic wastes.

Researchers evaluated three marsh plant species, black needlerush,
common reed (*Phragmites* *australis*) and bulltongue arrowhead
(*Sagittaria* *lancifolia*) for tolerance of soil contaminated with
diesel oil. Bulltongue arrowhead exhibited the highest level of
tolerance, common reed the least tolerance and black needlerush was
intermediate.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Black needlerush is a moderate growing, bunch forming,
grass-like perennial. It is course and rigid. Where soil salinity is
low, black needle grass is robust with leaves reaching over 2.2 m in
height. But in high saline areas the plants are dwarfed often less than
0.3 m tall. Leaves are terete, stiff and pungent. Inflorescence appear
laterally; involucral bract terete and erect. Perianth usually brownish,
3-3.5 mm long; sepals longer and are more pointed than petals. It is
composed of two types of plants based on flower morphology: one form
produces perfect (bisexual flowers) and another form produces pistillate
(unisexual) flowers. Seeds are dark and 0.6 mm long (May to October).
Black needlerush is found growing in brackish marshes in dense zonal
stands.

*Distribution*: Black needlerush is one of the dominate species in the
marshes on the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It dominates 20.7% of
the marsh in the south Atlantic states and 7.3% of Gulf coast marshes.
But, it covers more marsh area on the Gulf coast than on the Atlantic
coast. Its distribution is continuous from Maryland to Florida and
westward to southwestern Texas. It is usually restricted to coastal
marches and estuaries, but it may extend 10 to 15 miles inland along
river estuaries.

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: Black needlerush occupies the edge of ditches and shorelines
of bays, back bays and tributaries of tidal systems in coastal systems.
Black needlerush grows on soils ranging from almost pure sand to fine
silt loam and clay mixtures. It also, grows in highly organic soils
including peat soils. It has a high tolerance to anaerobic conditions,
high tolerance to CaCO~3~ and tolerates pH ranges from 4.0-7.0

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Black needlerush dominated plant communities are classified into three
generalized categories based on elevation and salinity influences: 1)
Saline marsh, which experiences little dilution of tidal waters; 2)
Brackish marsh, where tidal waters are routinely diluted, 3)
Intermediate marsh, which is transitional between brackish and
freshwater marsh. The number of species in association with black
needlerush tends to increase as water salinity decreases. However,
*Spartina* species are thought to be more tolerant of flooding and
salinity than black needlerush. In freshwater habitats black
needlerush's growth may be restricted by organisms that feed on its
rhizomes.

Salt marsh plant communities are characterized by striking zonal
patterns across elevation gradients. In a study conduced in Georgia,
black needlerush dominated the high elevation marsh and smooth cordgrass
(*Spartina* *alterniflora*) dominated the middle and low elevation
marsh. Black needlerush did not occur naturally in the cordgrass zone
and preformed poorly when transplanted there. The poor performance of
black needlerush occurred whether or not cordgrass neighbors were
removed, which indicates the poor performance was caused by physical
stress. In contrast, although smooth cordgrass occurred naturally at low
densities in the black needlerush zone, it preformed well there only if
the black needlerush neighbors were removed. The excellent performance
of smooth cordgrass only where black needlerush neighbors were removed
indicates that performance is limited by competition from black
needlerush.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

In the wild, black needlerush establishes from seed, rhizomes or
vegetative divisions from storm derived floatsum. Pistillate-flowered
plants produce more seed and seed with higher viability than
perfect-flowered plants. Seed germination requires light and seeds will
not germinate if covered. Seeds remain viable for over a year. Seeds
will germinate when submerged or floating on water. Black needlerush
seedlings are found mainly in areas with no or little associated
vegetation. Seedlings are seldom found in mature stands of black
needlerush or other marsh species. Black needlerush maintains itself in
established stands though rhizome growth.

The percentage germination of seed collected in Mississippi averaged 75
for pistillate flowered plants and 60 for perfect flowered plants. Black
needlerush seeds collected from the Mississippi Gulf coast exhibited
high percentage germination without a cold-wet stratification. Nursery
and greenhouse production are effectively accomplished with seed or
vegetative divisions. Seed can be stratified in saturated soil-less
potting media with high percentage of fine organics. At the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Cape May Plant Materials Center
(PMC), New Jersey, seed and media were thoroughly moistened, placed in
zip lock bags and stored at approximately 36 ºF for 60 days. Materials
were direct seeded into greenhouse starter trays with diurnal
temperatures of 80° F days and 50° F nights and 14 hour photoperiods.
Seedling emergence was limited and rate of growth slow.

For greenhouse forced materials, vegetative divisions use similar
environmental photoperiods and diurnal temperatures listed above.

Tissue culture and plant regeneration protocols have been developed for
blank needlerush.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

##### The effects of fire on blank needlerush dominated marsh vary with water depth and soil moisture. On flooded sites and sites with exposed but saturated soil, fires will not harm the underground reproductive structures. When the mash soil is dry, fire can consume the rhizomes and the entire stand. In Mississippi, burning increased the biomass produced in a black needlerush dominated marsh, but black needlerush recovered more slowly than ***Spartina*** species. Three years after burning black needlerush biomass was less than before burning. In Maryland, the biomass and stem densities of several marsh species increased after burning, but burning did not change either the biomass or stem density of black needlerush. In Florida, black needlerush biomass was 47% less one year after burning. In another Florida study, winter burning increased the frequency of common three-square (***Schoenoplectus* *pungens* var. *pungens***) when it occurred as a competing subdominant with black needlerush. But, in nearly pure stands of black needlerush burning did not change the species composition. In general, the effect of burning on black needlerush was either a decrease in biomass and frequency or no change in these parameters.  {#the-effects-of-fire-on-blank-needlerush-dominated-marsh-vary-with-water-depth-and-soil-moisture.-on-flooded-sites-and-sites-with-exposed-but-saturated-soil-fires-will-not-harm-the-underground-reproductive-structures.-when-the-mash-soil-is-dry-fire-can-consume-the-rhizomes-and-the-entire-stand.-in-mississippi-burning-increased-the-biomass-produced-in-a-black-needlerush-dominated-marsh-but-black-needlerush-recovered-more-slowly-than-spartina-species.-three-years-after-burning-black-needlerush-biomass-was-less-than-before-burning.-in-maryland-the-biomass-and-stem-densities-of-several-marsh-species-increased-after-burning-but-burning-did-not-change-either-the-biomass-or-stem-density-of-black-needlerush.-in-florida-black-needlerush-biomass-was-47-less-one-year-after-burning.-in-another-florida-study-winter-burning-increased-the-frequency-of-common-three-square-schoenoplectus-pungens-var.-pungens-when-it-occurred-as-a-competing-subdominant-with-black-needlerush.-but-in-nearly-pure-stands-of-black-needlerush-burning-did-not-change-the-species-composition.-in-general-the-effect-of-burning-on-black-needlerush-was-either-a-decrease-in-biomass-and-frequency-or-no-change-in-these-parameters. .Header-3}

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

##### In the mid-Atlantic, several major nursery pests may present themselves and required IPM strategies. These pests can include pythium, brown patch, fungus gnats and algae. This is based upon professional experiences at the NRCS Cape May PMC, New Jersey and diagnosis of pests by Rutgers University Turf Grass Department staff. {#in-the-mid-atlantic-several-major-nursery-pests-may-present-themselves-and-required-ipm-strategies.-these-pests-can-include-pythium-brown-patch-fungus-gnats-and-algae.-this-is-based-upon-professional-experiences-at-the-nrcs-cape-may-pmc-new-jersey-and-diagnosis-of-pests-by-rutgers-university-turf-grass-department-staff. .Header-3}

##### Consult your local university extension service agent for pesticide recommendations. {#consult-your-local-university-extension-service-agent-for-pesticide-recommendations. .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

No improved varieties are known, but numerous wetland nurseries carry
local or regional ecotypes.

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 {#references .Header-3}

##### Britton, L. and A. Brown, 1970. *An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada*. Dover Press. {#britton-l.-and-a.-brown-1970.-an-illustrated-flora-of-the-northern-united-states-and-canada.-dover-press. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Brown, M.L. and R.G. Brown. 1984*. Herbaceous plants of Maryland*. Port City Press. {#brown-m.l.-and-r.g.-brown.-1984.-herbaceous-plants-of-maryland.-port-city-press. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Eleuterius, L.N. 1975. *The life history of the salt marsh rush, Juncus roemerianusin*. Bull. Torrey Pines Bot. Club. 102: 135-140. {#eleuterius-l.n.-1975.-the-life-history-of-the-salt-marsh-rush-juncus-roemerianusin.-bull.-torrey-pines-bot.-club.-102-135-140. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Eleuterius, L.N. 1976. *The distribution of Juncus roemerianusin the salt marshes of North America*. Chesapeake Science 17: 289-292.  {#eleuterius-l.n.-1976.-the-distribution-of-juncus-roemerianusin-the-salt-marshes-of-north-america.-chesapeake-science-17-289-292. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Eleuterius, L.N.1976. *Vegetative morphology and anatomy of the salt marsh rush, Juncus roemerianusin*. Gulf Research Reports 5: 1-10. {#eleuterius-l.n.1976.-vegetative-morphology-and-anatomy-of-the-salt-marsh-rush-juncus-roemerianusin.-gulf-research-reports-5-1-10. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Eleuterius, L.N. 1984. *Autecology of the black needlerush Juncus roemerianusin*. Gulf Research Reports 7: 27-34.  {#eleuterius-l.n.-1984.-autecology-of-the-black-needlerush-juncus-roemerianusin.-gulf-research-reports-7-27-34. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### Fell, J.W. and I.L. Hunter. 1979. *Fungi associated with the decomposition of the black rush Juncus roemerianus in south Florida*. Mycologia 71: 323-342.  {#fell-j.w.-and-i.l.-hunter.-1979.-fungi-associated-with-the-decomposition-of-the-black-rush-juncus-roemerianus-in-south-florida.-mycologia-71-323-342. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### Fernald, M.L. 1950. *Grays manual of botany*. 8^th^ Edition. American Book Co. {#fernald-m.l.-1950.-grays-manual-of-botany.-8th-edition.-american-book-co. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Flores, C. and D. Bonds. *Evaluation of vegetative response to fire exclusion and prescribe burning on Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area*. Accessed: 070215. \<http://**www.fws.gov/blackwater/fire_research.pdf**\> {#flores-c.-and-d.-bonds.-evaluation-of-vegetative-response-to-fire-exclusion-and-prescribe-burning-on-blackwater-national-wildlife-refuge-and-fishing-bay-wildlife-management-area.-accessed-070215.-httpwww.fws.govblackwaterfire_research.pdf .Header-3}

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Gleason, H.A and A.Cronquist. 1963. *Manual of vascular plants of the United States and adjacent Canada*. Van Norstrand Reinhold Co. {#gleason-h.a-and-a.cronquist.-1963.-manual-of-vascular-plants-of-the-united-states-and-adjacent-canada.-van-norstrand-reinhold-co. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-10 .Header-3}

##### Hill, D.T., W.E. Payne, J.W. Jones and S.R. Kown. 1997. *Ammonia effects on the biomass production of five constructed wetland plant species*. Bioresource Technology 62: 109-133. {#hill-d.t.-w.e.-payne-j.w.-jones-and-s.r.-kown.-1997.-ammonia-effects-on-the-biomass-production-of-five-constructed-wetland-plant-species.-bioresource-technology-62-109-133. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-11 .Header-3}

##### Hackney, C.T. and A.A. De LaCruz. 1981. *Effects of fire on two brackish marsh communities" management implications*. Wetlands 1: 75-86. {#hackney-c.t.-and-a.a.-de-lacruz.-1981.-effects-of-fire-on-two-brackish-marsh-communities-management-implications.-wetlands-1-75-86. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-12 .Header-3}

##### Lin, Q, & I.A. Mendelssohn. 2006. *Determination of diesel oil tolerance of coastal dominant marsh plants for restoration and remediation of the oil-impacted habitats*. \<http://**www.osradp.lsu.edu/maySymp06/MaySymp06_Lin.pdf**\> {#lin-q-i.a.-mendelssohn.-2006.-determination-of-diesel-oil-tolerance-of-coastal-dominant-marsh-plants-for-restoration-and-remediation-of-the-oil-impacted-habitats.-httpwww.osradp.lsu.edumaysymp06maysymp06_lin.pdf .Header-3}

#####  {#section-13 .Header-3}

##### Meyrs, K.E. 1956. *Mangement of needlerush marsh at the Chassahowitzka Refuge*. Proc. Annual Conference Southeast Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 9: 175-177.  {#meyrs-k.e.-1956.-mangement-of-needlerush-marsh-at-the-chassahowitzka-refuge.-proc.-annual-conference-southeast-assoc.-game-and-fish-comm.-9-175-177. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-14 .Header-3}

##### Odum, W.E., J.C. Zieman and E.J. Heald. 1973. *Importance of various plant detritus to estuaries*. Pp. 91-114. *In*: Proceedings of the Costal Marsh and Estuary Management Symposium. Ed. R.H. Chabrech, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge.  {#odum-w.e.-j.c.-zieman-and-e.j.-heald.-1973.-importance-of-various-plant-detritus-to-estuaries.-pp.-91-114.-in-proceedings-of-the-costal-marsh-and-estuary-management-symposium.-ed.-r.h.-chabrech-louisiana-state-univ.-baton-rouge. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-15 .Header-3}

##### Pennings, S.C., M. Grant and M.D. Bertness. 2005. *Plant zonation in low-latitude salt marshes: disentangling the roles of flooding, salinity and competition*. Journal of Ecology 93: 159-167. {#pennings-s.c.-m.-grant-and-m.d.-bertness.-2005.-plant-zonation-in-low-latitude-salt-marshes-disentangling-the-roles-of-flooding-salinity-and-competition.-journal-of-ecology-93-159-167. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-16 .Header-3}

##### Stout, J.P. 1984*. The ecology of irregularly flooded salt marches of the Northeaster Gulf of Mexico; a community profile*. Biol. Rep. 85. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service.  {#stout-j.p.-1984.-the-ecology-of-irregularly-flooded-salt-marches-of-the-northeaster-gulf-of-mexico-a-community-profile.-biol.-rep.-85.-u.s.-dept.-of-interior-fish-wildlife-service. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-17 .Header-3}

##### UDSA-Forest Service. *Fire effect information system* \<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/\>. Accessed: 070215. {#udsa-forest-service.-fire-effect-information-system-httpwww.fs.fed.usdatabasefeis.-accessed-070215. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-18 .Header-3}

##### USDA, NRCS. 2007. *The PLANTS database* ([**http://plants.usda.gov**](http://plants.usda.gov/), 31 January 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. {#usda-nrcs.-2007.-the-plants-database-httpplants.usda.gov-31-january-2007.-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-la-70874-4490-usa. .Header-3}

#####   {#section-19 .Header-3}

##### Wang, J., D.M. Seliskar and J.L. Gallagher. 2005. *Tissue culture and plant rgeneration of the sast marsh monocots Juncus roemerianus and Juncus gerardi*. \<http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=16953946\>. {#wang-j.-d.m.-seliskar-and-j.l.-gallagher.-2005.-tissue-culture-and-plant-rgeneration-of-the-sast-marsh-monocots-juncus-roemerianus-and-juncus-gerardi.-httpcat.inist.framodeleaffichencpsidt16953946. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-20 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By {#prepared-by .Header-3}

William Skaradek

USDA NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center,

Cape May, New Jersey

James F. Henson

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

William Skaradek

USDA NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center, Cape May, New Jersey

##### Document Reviewer: {#document-reviewer .Header-3}

##### *Joel Douglas* {#joel-douglas .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS Central National Technology Support Center, Fort Worth, Texas {#usda-nrcs-central-national-technology-support-center-fort-worth-texas .Header-3}

##### *Robert Glennon* {#robert-glennon .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS National Headquarters, Washington, D.C. {#usda-nrcs-national-headquarters-washington-d.c. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-21 .Header-4}

Edited: 070227 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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