Juncus macrophyllus
Long-leaved rush
Family: Juncaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Juncus macrophyllus (Long-leaved rush) is a native California grass in the Juncaceae family, recognized by distinctive long leaves equaling stem length.
Long-leaved rush is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and desert mountains at elevations of 700 to 2,600 meters in wet slopes and creekbank habitats. Its flowers are reddish-brown with distinctive red-streaked sepal midveins, clustered in 8 to 30 groups with 3 to 5 flowers per cluster. Growing with loose, clumped stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall, it develops from a short rhizome with thick, somewhat channeled leaves. Its leaves are primarily basal, approximately 1.5 to 3 millimeters wide, with membranous sheath appendages 1.5 to 3.4 millimeters long. The fruit is shiny brown, obovoid, and slightly beaked, generally equal to or shorter than the perianth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; distinctive long leaves equaling stem length
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Wet slopes, creekbanks
Elevation: 700-2600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Nevada, Plumas, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, Arizona, Baja California
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 macrophyllus native to California?
Yes. Juncus macrophyllus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Juncus macrophyllus grow?
Juncus macrophyllus occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 700-2600 m.
What plant family does Juncus macrophyllus belong to?
Juncus macrophyllus is in the Juncaceae family, genus Juncus.
What habitat does Juncus macrophyllus grow in?
Juncus macrophyllus grows in Uncommon. Wet slopes, creekbanks.
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.