1B Leaf blades usually with conspicuous white hairs; leaf sheaths closed; seeds 3 per capsule - 2 LUZULA
• Flowers at the tip of branched inflorescense and solitary = L.acuminata, L.parviflora
• Flowers in loose clusters of 3--4 flowers = L.luzuloides uncommon
• Flowers in dense clusters of up to 30+ flowers = L.multiflora, L.confusa, L.spicata
1A Leaf blade smooth; sheaths open; many seeds per capsule - 3 JUNCUS [sensu lato]
3C Inflorescence emerging from side of the culm (GROM Rush Key 1)
• Flowers in dense clusters = J.nodosus, J.torreyi
• Subalpine only with minutely toothed leaves = (Oreo)Juncus trifidus
• J.balticus, J.effusus/J.pylaei, J.filiformis
3B Inflorescense terminal in dense clusters of 5+ flowers (GROM Rush Key 4)
• J.militaris emergent, stems 5--12 mm thick, J.torreyi
• Lacking cross-partitions = J.marginatus
• With internal cross-partitions
• Larger leaves & longer bract = J.nodus
• Smaller leaves & shorter bract = J.canadensis, J.acuminatus brackish only
3A Inflorescence terminal; flowers solitary or in clusters of less than 5 flowers
4a Leaves with internal cross-partitions (GROM Rush Key 2)
• Flowers solitary or paired, red culm bases = J.pelocarpus often with bulbils
• Uppermost branches of inflorescence spreading = J.articulatus, J.brachycephalus
• Uppermost branches of inflorescence not spreading more upright = J.brevicaudatus
• J.stygius, J.alpinoarticulatus, J.subtilis
4b Leaves without internal cross-partitions (GROM Rush Key 3)
• Usually small plants, lacking leaf sheath auricles, inflorescence occupying a large portion of the plant height = J.ambiguus (uncommon coastal), J.bufonius
• Above treeline, with minutely toothed leaves = (Oreo)Juncus trifidus
• Plant of brackish habitats and saline soil = J.geradi
• Plant of dry sandy soils = J.greenei
• Leaf sheath auricles more than 1 mm long
1 Short plants to 50 cm = J.tenuis
2 Tall plants over 70 cm = J.anthelatus uncommon
• Leaf sheath auricles less than 1 mm long
1 Primary inflorescence bract long = J.dichotomus, J.dudleyi
2 Primary inflorescence bract short, red culm bases = J.pelocarpus often with bulbils
• J.secundus, J.stygius, J.subtilis, J.vaseyi
last updated 2022-Mar-18