Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus
Hermann's dwarf rush
Dean Wm. Taylor (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus (Hermann's dwarf rush) is a native California grass in the Juncaceae family, recognized by tiny size, uniform stem width, and fruit longer than perianth.
Hermann's dwarf rush is a California native annual found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in damp open areas, especially vernally wet sites, at elevations of 400 to 3,200 meters. Flowering details are limited in the provided data, but this delicate rush has extremely narrow stems less than a millimeter wide. Growing with slender, compact stems typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms small, dense clusters in seasonally wet environments. Its stems feature minimal branching with 1 to 2 small bracts, creating a subtle, understated appearance in its habitat. The plant's fruit notably extends beyond the perianth, a distinctive characteristic of this diminutive rush species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 66 sympatric species; key features are tiny size, uniform stem width, and fruit longer than perianth
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp open areas, especially vernally wet
Elevation: 400-3200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Alpine, Fresno, Lake, Modoc, Nevada, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Trinity, Mendocino, Sonoma, Lassen, Tulare, Plumas, Yuba, Butte, Shasta, Placer, Napa, Humboldt, Madera, Mono, San Diego, El Dorado
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Utah
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 hemiendytus var. hemiendytus native to California?
Yes. Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus grow?
Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus occurs in San Bernardino, Alpine, Fresno, Lake, Modoc, Nevada, Sierra, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 400-3200 m.
What plant family does Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus belong to?
Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus is in the Juncaceae family, genus Juncus.
What habitat does Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus grow in?
Juncus hemiendytus var. hemiendytus grows in Damp open areas, especially vernally wet.
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.