Juncus repens Michx.

Creeping Rush

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Creeping Rush is a native herbaceous perennial in the Rush family (Juncaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Creeping Rush occurs in shallow water or on wet soil around the margins of lakes and ponds, on stream and river banks, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a cespitose stoloniferous herb with fibrous roots. It often forms large mats. The leaves are linear, flat, not septate, with entire margins. Flowering only occurs when plants are exposed. Flowers are produced in heads on erect or arching branched stems above the foliage. Each stem has 2-10 heads, each with 3-12 flowers. Flowers have six erect lanceolate tepals that are green in color, and 3 yellow stamens. The fruit is a capsule. Creeping Rush is a popular aquarium plant that is easy to grow. It forms a low grass-like carpet and is an excellent filter plant and provides cover, foraging areas, and spawning sites. It is available from many aquarium supply stores and can be propagated by divisions and from plantlets that form on the stolon’s.—A. Diamond.

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Native OBL (NWPL)

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