Juncus chlorocephalus
Greenheaded rush
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Juncus chlorocephalus (Greenheaded rush) is a native California grass in the Juncaceae family, recognized by NONE sympatric - geographically isolated from congeners.
Greenheaded rush is a California native perennial found in northern and central Sierra Nevada in wet areas of montane conifer forest at elevations of 1,200 to 3,100 meters. Flowering with white to pink or greenish flowers in compact clusters, this rush has distinctive perianth parts about 4 millimeters long with pale green to red midveins. Growing 12 to 50 centimeters tall with a stout, mat-forming rhizome, it develops sparse cauline leaves with narrow cylindric blades less than 1 millimeter wide. Its leaves emerge from purple-red basal sheaths with scarious appendages 4 to 6 millimeters long. The fruit is small, brown, and three-angled, with tiny asymmetric light brown seeds measuring just 0.6 millimeters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE sympatric - geographically isolated from congeners
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet areas in montane conifer forest
Elevation: 1200-3100 m
California counties: Alpine, Amador, Mariposa, Nevada, Tuolumne, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono, Placer, Sierra, Plumas
Outside California: Nevada
How to tell it apart
vs Schoenoplectus: Juncus has leaf blades present; Schoenoplectus is leafless with only bladeless sheaths at base.; vs Carex: Juncus has round or flattened stems; Carex has triangular stems you can feel.; vs Luzula: Run finger along leaf edge - smooth = Juncus, hairy = Luzula.; vs Elegia: Juncus has small individual flowers; Elegia has showy papery bracts and branching structure.; vs Cyperus: Juncus has round stems and capsules; Cyperus has triangular stems and lens-shaped achenes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Juncus chlorocephalus native to California?
Yes. Juncus chlorocephalus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Juncus chlorocephalus grow?
Juncus chlorocephalus occurs in Alpine, Amador, Mariposa, Nevada, Tuolumne, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1200-3100 m.
What plant family does Juncus chlorocephalus belong to?
Juncus chlorocephalus is in the Juncaceae family, genus Juncus.
What habitat does Juncus chlorocephalus grow in?
Juncus chlorocephalus grows in Wet areas in montane conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.