Juncus effusus
Juncus effusus, with the common names common rush or soft rush, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant species in the rush family Juncaceae. In North America, the common name soft rush also refers to "Juncus interior". Distribution. "Juncus effusus" is nearly cosmopolitan, considered native in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. It has naturalized in Australia, Madagascar, and various oceanic islands. It is found growing in wet areas, such as wetlands, riparian areas, and marshes. In the United Kingdom it is found in purple moor-grass and rush pastures and fen-meadow plant associations. Description. "Juncus  effusus" grows in large clumps about tall at the water's edge along streams and ditches, but can be invasive anywhere with moist soil. It is commonly found growing in humus-rich areas like marshes, ditches, fens, and beaver dams. The stems are smooth cylinders with light pith filling. The yellowish inflorescence appears to emerge from one side of the stem about from the top. In fact the stem ends there; the top part is the bract, that continues with only a slight colour-band marking it from the stem. The lower leaves are reduced to a brown sheath at  the bottom of the stem. Subspecies. Five subspecies are currently recognized: "Juncus effusus" can be differentiated from the rarer "Juncus pylaei" by the number of ridges on the stem. "Juncus effusus" has 30 to 40 ridges and "J. pylaei" has 10 to 20. Uses. Wildlife. The species provides wildfowl, wader feeding, and nesting habitats, and also habitats for small mammals. The rootstalks are eaten by muskrats, and birds take shelter amongst the plant's stems. A number of invertebrates feed on soft rush, including the rufous minor moth. Humans. "Juncus effusus" is one of the seven ingredients of hui sup  tea (去濕茶). In Japan, this rush is called (藺草) and is grown to be woven into the covering of tatami mats (the filling is rice straw, extruded styrofoam, chip board, or some combination). In Iran and Afghanistan too it is used to weave light cheap mats. It is called halfa (حلفا) and has medicinal uses too. In Europe, this rush was once used to make rushlights (by soaking the pith in grease), a cheap alternative to candles. Cultivation. The species is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for planting in water gardens, native plant and wildlife gardens, and for larger designed  natural landscaping and habitat restoration projects. The cultivar "Juncus effusus" 'Spiralis' (syn. "Juncus spiralis"), with the common names corkscrew rush or spiral rush, is a distinctive potted and water garden plant due to its very curled spiral like foliage. Weed control. "Juncus effusus" can become a naturalized or invasive species, undesirable in rangelands for its unpalatability to livestock. Suggested methods of controlling rushes include: ploughing; high applications of inorganic fertilizer (can pollute watersheds); and topping to prevent seed formation. Chemistry. Juncusol is a 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene found in "J. effusus". The plant also contains effusol and dehydroeffusol.