Juncus acutus L.

Perennial, tufted, usually tall and hard. Rhizomes horizontal, compressed; woody roots covered with a thick velamen of root-hairs. Stems 1-2 m tall, coarse, terete, smooth. Leaf one per shoot, forming a cylindric pungent blade as tall as inflorescence, below enveloped by 2-3 loose, brown, sheathing cataphylls. Flowers in pseudolateral, decompound panicles, subtending leaf forming continuation of stem; floral glomerules on numerous ascending branches and branchlets of varying length. Tepals c. 3 mm long, canaliculate, outer somewhat shorter, apiculate, inner with membranous auricles extended above retuse mucronate apex. Stamens 6; anthers large, 1.5 mm long, red; filaments short, flat. Ovary ovoid; style short; stigmas swollen, c. 1.5 mm long, red, just exserted. Capsule exserted, globose, c. 4.5 mm diam., apiculate, shiny, reddish brown; seed allan-toid, c. 1 mm long, with a white membranous appendage on either side. Flowering in spring.

It is a temperate plant. It grows on sandy sea shores. It can grow in salty soils. It is best in moist soil. It can grow near water.

The young buds are eaten boiled. The seeds are used with tea.

Plants can be grown from seeds.