Juncaceae

Flutter - rush ( Juncus effusus )

In the plant family of Rushes (used in Germany and partly in Switzerland and Liechtenstein name) or Sims family ( usual in Austria designation) ( Juncaceae ) distributed the majority of the over 400 species on the two most popular ( cosmopolitan ) species of rushes or. ledges ( Juncus ) and the wood rush ( Luzula ).

Dissemination

The Rushes of the genera Juncus and Luzula are common in the temperate and arctic regions of both hemispheres world. In the tropics, their occurrence is restricted to the higher altitudes of the mountains. The other genera are also found in New Zealand exclusively in South America, Marsippospermum and Rostkovia.

Description

Among the bins deciduous plants, but also many evergreen forms are represented. Predominantly it is perennial herbaceous plants, few species are annual. The genera of the family are very different in appearance. Your vegetative propagation takes place in the majority on foothills ( rhizomes). Few species are horstwüchsig. The species of the genus Distichia form compact cushions.

The leaves are mostly basal and almost always three lines, arranged in two rows rare ( genus Distichia ). While the rushes have usually round in cross section, often rigidly upright, columnar -like and bare deciduous leaves that Luzulo have mostly grassy and often hairy leaf blades. The leaf blades are in most species (eg Juncus ) bald, round in cross section or flattened round. The stalk- like leaves can be compactly filled with a white cord and tiers, divided by transverse cord layers. The shoot base is often enveloped by spreitenlosen leaf sheaths. These are open at the rushes and often auriculate above the transition to the leaf surface. The leaf sheaths of Luzulo other hand, are always closed. Leaf blades are flat, grassy or at most rinnig. They are at least in the hairy area of the vaginal orifice.

The Rushes are usually monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). The inflorescence of the Rushes is a modified form of the panicle, including a Spirre. The rand union and lower flowers are stalked longest, the central or upper on the other hand are swamped. In this way, an almost funnel- shaped structure. Several flowers can be combined in addition knäuelig.

The small flowers are similar to those of the lily family ( Liliaceae ) in its basic structure. The floral organs - six bracts ( tepals ), six stamens ( stamens ) and three carpels ( carpels ) - are regular and mostly fully formed. The bloom ( perianth ) are converted to spelzenartigen shed. They are colored green to brown, purple or black, sometimes transparent. The number of stamens is rarely reduced to three. The pollen grains are always aggregated into four packages. The ovaries are always upper constant and end in three relatively long, papillary, often screwed stigma lobes.

The fruit type of the Rushes is three to mehrsamige capsule. In the rushes this mehrsamig and by internal ribs ( placentas ) is divided in three parts. The capsules of Luzulo are unicompartmental and wear on the inside at the base of three seeds. While the wood rush at the end of the long white seed appendage ( elaiosomes ) exist here, in the rushes only exceptionally membranous appendages.

Ecology

Pollination of flowers is mainly due to the wind ( anemophily ) or by insects ( Entomogamie ). In a few species self-pollination is possible ( autogamy ). The distribution of the seeds via the wind ( Anemochorie ), by the adhesion of the fruits in the plumage or fur of animals ( Epichorie ). The Luzulo the ants spread ( myrmecochory ) is predominant. The fat-rich appendage of the seed is the ants as food. The seeds are carried into the Ameisenbauten and so deported to other places.

While the species of the genus Juncus predominantly colonize moist to wet habitats such as bogs, swamps, riverbanks or wetlands, prefer the species of the genus Luzula drier soils and shady locations such as forests and thickets. The latter are often associated with ant -rich habitats.

Genera

The Rushes include about 430 species in about seven genera.

• Distichia Nees & Meyen: With about three species in South America ( Andes)
• Rushes ( Juncus L.) - about 300 species
• Luzulo ( Luzula DC. ) - About 115 species
• Marsippospermum Desv. With four species in South America, the Falkland Islands and New Zealand
• Patosia: With probably only one type in Chile and Argentina: Patosia clandestina ( Phil.) Buchenau

Pictures

Inflorescence of the chamois - rush ( Juncus jacquinii ).

Field Wood-rush ( Luzula campestris ).

Swell

Family descriptions:

• The Juncaceae in APWebsite family. (English)
• Family description from DELTA L.Watson and MJDallwitz.
• Description of the family in the Flora of North America. (English)
• Description of the family in the Flora of China. (English)
• Description of the family in the flora of New Zealand. (English)
• David John Mabberley: The Plant-Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press 1987. ISBN 0-521-34060-8