Rushes

Rushes are grass- and sedge-like in their superficial morphology, but they differ from plants in these Spike rushes. JLM Visuals. Reproduced by permission. families (Poaceae and Cyperaceae, respectively) in important respects.

Most species of rushes are herbaceous perennial plants, although a few have an annual life cycle. Many species of rushes typically grow erect, but a few grow close to the ground surface. The stems of rushes are usually hollow, cylindrical, or somewhat flattened, and often with occasional cross-sections or nodes. The leaves of rushes are commonly arranged around the base of the flowering stems, but in some species the leaves are reduced to small sheaths around the flower-bearing shoots. The roots of rushes are generally fibrous, and some species have well developed systems of rhizomes.

Rushes have small, inconspicuous florets with many reduced floral parts. The florets are typically aggregated into inflorescences or groups of various types and are wind-pollinated. Each floret typically contains both staminate and pistillate parts and is therefore bisexual. The fruit is a small capsule that contains large numbers of tiny seeds.