bog rush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bog rush
• lamp rush
• soft rush
• Soft-rush
• Common rush
• Flutterrush
• corkscrew rush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Agathryon effusum
• Juncus conglomeratus var. effusus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, falling into the family Juncaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Juncus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal or wetland areas of Denmark and Finland. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Føroyar and Iceland. The species is also widely documented throughout Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight the plant's preference for Northern European environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Juncus effusus is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from sea level to high-altitude ecosystems. It thrives in a variety of specific habitats, including Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, aquatic vegetation zones, and even vegetation growing over rocky outcrops. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, with an elevational range spanning from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 3700 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 2200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Vegetação Aquática, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Genetics

The genetics of Juncus effusus are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that suggests a history of polyploidy and genomic variation within the species. The plant exhibits significant cytogenetic diversity, with recorded chromosome numbers including 40, 42, and 80. This variation in the number of chromosomes indicates that the species can exist in different ploidy levels, a common evolutionary mechanism in many wetland taxa that facilitates adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. Such chromosomal fluctuations play a crucial role in the plant's genetic plasticity and its ability to maintain stable populations across varying ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

40, 42, 80

Life history

The life history of Juncus effusus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it is classified as a helophyte, thriving in wetland environments where it bridges the gap between aquatic and terrestrial life, while its architectural growth strategy is specifically categorized as a hemicryptophyte. This plant exhibits a deciduous habit, shedding its above-ground parts as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

helophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Juncus effusus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is entirely self-supporting, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies. It typically grows in terrestrial environments, though it is often associated with semiaquatic habitats. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 1.27 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial developmental habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.26666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Juncus effusus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many temperate wetland species. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on soil nutrients and does not possess mechanisms for capturing prey, nor does it function as a nitrogen fixer. Its vegetative morphology is defined by highly specialized, slender leaves that exhibit significant variation in dimensions; while the minimum leaf length is recorded at a mere 0.14 cm, the maximum leaf length can reach up to 75 cm. The leaves are notably narrow, with a mean width of 0.3 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.14 cm to a maximum of 0.43 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 35.145 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 109.36 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and its physiological adaptation to its specific environmental niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

75 cm

Leaf length min:

0.14 cm

Leaf size mean:

35.145 cm²

Leaf width max:

0.43 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.14 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

109.36 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Juncus effusus is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August, featuring small brown flowers that range in length from 0.15 cm to 0.25 cm. These flowers are arranged in inflorescences with lengths varying between 0.015 m and 0.06 m. The pollination syndrome is categorized as abiotic, specifically utilizing wind as the primary vector. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type capsules as its fruit type, with a mean fruit length of 0.2 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean length of 0.5 mm (ranging from 0.5 mm to 0.5 mm), a mean volume of 0.018 mm³ (between 0.015 and 0.021 mm³), and a mean mass of approximately 0.000698 g (ranging from 9e-06 g to 5e-05 g). Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via epizoochory, where seeds are transported by animals. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flower length max:

0.25 cm

Flower length min:

0.15 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.015 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

0.5 mm

Seed mass max:

5e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000698070833333333 g

Seed mass min:

9e-06 g

Seed volume max:

0.021 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.018 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.015 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Juncus effusus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Chemicals

Juncus effusus has 43 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC, COPPER, MERCURY, ZINC, luteolin.

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

MERCURY

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

ZINC

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

luteolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

1,6-Dimethyl-4,5-dihydropyrene-2,7-diol

1. Fitoterapia

1-(3,7-Dihydroxy-2,8-dimethyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthren-1-yl)ethanone

1. Fitoterapia

2,3-isopylidene-1-O-ferulic acid glyceride

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

5-(1-methoxyethyl)-1-methyl-phenanthren-2,7-diol

1. Archives of pharmacal research

7,8-Dihydroxycoumarin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Juncus effusus has 248 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, ACE-Inhibitor, Acetylcholinergic, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Juncus effusus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Phytophthora parasitica, anxiety, cancer.

Phytophthora parasitica

1. Fitoterapia

Anxiety

1. CNS drugs

Cancer

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Preparations

Juncus effusus has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Chinese medical materials, extract.

Chinese medical materials

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Extract

1. PeerJ