Rushes

Many species of rushes are native to North America, but some of these are also found on other continents. The Baltic rush (Juncus balticus) is a very widespread species and is common along moist lakeshores in Eurasia and in North and South America. The soft rush (J. effusus) and path rush (J. tenuis) are similarly cosmopolitan species. Unlike the previous species, which are perennial, the toad rush (J. bufonius) is an annual species of moist soils, and it also has a very wide distribution, occurring on most continents.

Some species of rushes can grow as aquatic plants that root in the sediment of shallow water but grow into the atmosphere where they develop their flowers. Examples of these relatively tall rushes include Juncus articulatus and J. militaris which can grow as tall as 3.3 ft (1 m).