logo Calflora, a 501c3 non-profit
Taxon  Report  
SIGN IN - REGISTER
Juncus acutus  L.
Spiny rush
© 2020 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2021 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2019 Susan McDougall
© 2020 R.A. Chasey
© 2019 Susan McDougall
© 2021 Ron Vanderhoff
© Benjamin J. Dion
© Matthew Salkiewicz
© kerj
Juncus acutus is a perennial grasslike herb (rhizomatous) that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in western North America.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
DJJJASONAFMM

Bloom Period
Subspecies and Varieties:
Genus: Juncus
Family: Juncaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Wetlands: Occurs usually in wetlands, occasionally in non wetlands

Habitat: seeps, meadows, salt-marsh, dunes, coastal

Communities: Coastal Strand, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by PLANTS + POWO

Information about  Juncus acutus from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
USDA PLANTS Profile (JUAC2)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Ecology: This species is important for a variety of reasons. It provides habitat and food for a range of wetland animals, including insects, birds, and mammals. It is also an important component of wetland ecosystems, helping to prevent soil erosion and maintain water quality. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2025).