Juncus pelocarpus E. Meyer. Subgenus: Juncus. Section: Ozophyllum. Common name: Brown-fruited Rush. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Ditches, along pond and stream margins, seepage slopes, disturbed open areas, sea-level fens, interdunal swales, Atlantic white-cedar swamps. Distribution: NL (Labrador) west to MN, south to DE, e. VA, n. IN; se. VA to SC; FL Panhandle and s. AL.

ID notes: Distinctive among section Ozophyllum (species with septate leaves) in having 1-2 flowers per inflorescence node in an open inflorescence. Many times the flowers will be aborted and few mature capsules found. The septae along the narrow leaf blades of J. pelocarpus can be difficult to detect.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: More southern populations (from VA southward) are more robust and have sometimes been separated as J. abortivus, but variation appears to be clinal.

Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, FNA22, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Tat, Va, WH3, Kirschner (2002b); = Verojuncus pelocarpus (El.Mey.) Záv.Drábk. & Proćków – Proćków & Záveská Drábková (2023); > Juncus abortivus – F, GW1, K1, RAB, S; > Juncus pelocarpus El.Mey. – K1; > Juncus pelocarpus El.Mey. var. crassicaudex Engelm. – C, F, G; > Juncus pelocarpus El.Mey. var. pelocarpus – C, F, G

Links to other floras: = Juncus pelocarpus - FNA22

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: OBL
• Midwest: OBL
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 8