Juncus capensis Thunb.

Tufted erect perennials with compact rhizomes, 60-600 mm tall; roots thin. Leaves numerous, grass-like; filiform, setaceous to narrowly linear, flat or inrolled, margin narrowly membranous below. Inflorescence usually exserted, very varied, a decompound dichasium to much reduced, subtended by a short bract; floral bracts tepaloid. Capitula semi-globose to globose, with 10-15-20 flowers. Tepals with outer ovate-aristate, 4-5 mm long, with dark brown stripes, becoming pale with age; inner shorter and broader, acute with membranous margins. Stamens 6; anthers long and narrow, often diverging at base; filaments short, flat. Ovary ovoid, attenuated into a red style 1 mm long, with 3 red exserted stigmas, c. 2 mm long. Capsule ovoid to narrowly oblong-ovoid, apiculate to rostrate, 3-locular; seed dark, oblong-globose, 0.5 mm long, obtuse, with a membranous covering, which becomes mucilaginous when wet.