Stinging rush

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Stinging rush
Stinging rush (Juncus acutus)

Stinging rush ( Juncus acutus )

Systematics
Monocots
Commelinids
Order : Sweet grass (Poales)
Family : Rush Family (Juncaceae)
Genre : Rushes ( Juncus )
Type : Stinging rush
Scientific name
Juncus acutus
L.

The stinging rush ( Juncus acutus ) is a halophytic plant species from the rush family (Juncaceae).

description

The stinging rush is a perennial plant that reaches heights of 30 to 150 cm. The plant forms large, dense clumps with stiff and pungent, petiolate leaves . The flowering shoots are 2 to 4 mm thick and are often surmounted by the lowest, strongly piercing, stem-like bract.

The many-flowered inflorescence is mostly dense and spherical. The 6 bracts, with a wide, membranous edge, are about the same length. The three inner bracts are wider and have a membranous auricle at the tip. Flowering time is from April to July. The egg-shaped capsule is 4 to 6 mm in size, about twice as long as the flower envelope. The capsule has a short tip.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 48.

Occurrence

The stinging rush is common on the coasts of the entire Mediterranean , the Atlantic (north to Ireland), the Black and Caspian Seas and the Canary Islands . In addition, it is found in the tropics and subtropics around the world. Sandy beaches and salt marshes are preferred as locations. The stinging rush is less common in inland areas.

Systematics

One can distinguish between two subspecies:

  • Juncus acutus subsp. acutus : It occurs in the tropics and subtropics.
  • Juncus acutus subsp. leopoldii (Parl.) Snogerup : It occurs in the western Mediterranean region, in Macaronesia, in southern Africa, from the southern United States to northern Mexico, from southern Brazil to the temperate zones of South America, on Bermuda and on Ascension .

literature

  • Peter Schönfelder, Ingrid Schönfelder: What is in bloom in the Mediterranean? 750 species (=  Kosmos nature guide ). 4th edition. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-440-10211-4 , pp. 299 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Tropicos. [1]
  2. a b c Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Juncus acutus. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved October 8, 2016.

Web links

Commons : Juncus acutus  - collection of images, videos and audio files