Juncus digitatus
Finger rush
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Juncus digitatus (Finger rush) is a native California grass in the Juncaceae family, recognized by . Key features: small annual, hair-like stems, fruit >> perianth and curved.
Finger rush is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills and Shasta County in vernal pools, swales, and volcanic seeps at elevations of 650 to 800 meters. Flowering in spring, this delicate rush produces small flowers with green to red midvein perianth parts arranged in clusters of one to eight per stem. Growing densely tufted and extremely slender with hair-like stems less than 0.4 millimeters wide, the plant reaches 4 to 10.5 centimeters tall and turns reddish when fruiting. Its basal leaves lack appendages, with a distinctive growth pattern of compact, clustered stems. The fruit develops linear-oblong and slightly curved, typically turning reddish and substantially exceeding the perianth length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species. Key features: small annual, hair-like stems, fruit >> perianth and curved
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, swales, volcanic seeps
Elevation: 650-800 m
California counties: Shasta, Nevada
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 digitatus native to California?
Yes. Juncus digitatus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Juncus digitatus grow?
Juncus digitatus occurs in Shasta, Nevada, at elevations of 650-800 m.
What plant family does Juncus digitatus belong to?
Juncus digitatus is in the Juncaceae family, genus Juncus.
Is Juncus digitatus rare or endangered?
Juncus digitatus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Juncus digitatus grow in?
Juncus digitatus grows in Vernal pools, swales, volcanic seeps.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.