Rushes

Rushes are not of much direct economic benefit to humans. The Japanese mat rush or soft rush (Juncus effusus) and the wicker rush (J. squarrosus) are used for weaving and making wicker chair-bottoms. Rushes are rarely cultivated for these purposes. The raw materials are usually collected from habitats that are being managed for other purposes or from natural wetlands.

Rushes are sometimes abundant in pastures, but they are not a preferred forage species because their stems are not very palatable or nutritious for domestic livestock.

Rushes also provide useful ecological functions in some of the habitats in which they are abundant. For example, on sloping ground with moist soil rushes may be important in binding the surface soil and thereby helping to prevent some erosion.

A few species of rushes have naturally spread or been introduced by humans beyond their native habitats and are considered to be weeds in some parts of their new range. In North America, the soft rush and path rush (J. tenuis) are minor weeds of pastures, lawns, and some other habitats.