Juncus elliottii
Elliott's rush, Elliott's Rush
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Juncus elliottii (Elliott's rush) is a native California grass in the Juncaceae family, recognized by tubers on roots and many small flower clusters.
Elliott's rush is a naturalized perennial found in the San Francisco Bay region, specifically Alameda County, on disturbed wet ground at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering time not specified in source data, this rush produces light brown to greenish flowers with narrowly acuminate perianth segments. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with a loosely tufted habit and short rhizome, the plant has some roots with distinctive oblong tubers near their tips. Its leaves feature cylindric blades with complete but inconspicuous crosswalls and leaf sheaths with rounded appendages 1 to 4 millimeters long. The plant's inflorescence includes spreading branches with clusters of 25 to 75 flowers, each cluster containing 2 to 10 individual flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; key features are tubers on roots and many small flower clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed wet ground
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native to c N.Am
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 elliottii native to California?
Yes. Juncus elliottii is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Juncus elliottii belong to?
Juncus elliottii is in the Juncaceae family, genus Juncus.
What habitat does Juncus elliottii grow in?
Juncus elliottii grows in Disturbed wet ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.