Botanical name: Juncus effusus    Family: Juncaceae (Rush family)
Synonyms: Juncus communis, Juncus laevis, Tristemon conglomeratus

Soft Rush is a perennial, densely clustered herb. Rhizome is shortly creeping, thick. Stems are round, 25-90 cm or taller x 1- mm, striped; pith continuous. Cataphylls closely embrace stem, reddish brown to chestnut brown, sheathlike, 2-22 cm. Inflorescences are virtually laterally on the stem, densely to laxly many flowered. Involucral bract is erect, looking like a continuation of stem, round, 5-28 cm. Perianth segments are usually pale brown, linear-lanceshaped, 2-2.7 x about 0.8 mm, unequal with outer ones slightly longer than inner, tip pointed. Stamens 3 (or 6), about 2/3 as long as perianth; anthers 0.5-0.7 mm, slightly shorter than filaments. Style very short. Capsule is ovoid to oblong, slightly depressed or not, equaling or slightly longer than perianth, 3-septate, tip blunt. Soft Rush is found in wet pastures, bogs, damp woods. It is widespread in Temperate Northern Hemisphere to W. South America, S. Africa, and South Asia. Flowering: April-July.
Medicinal uses: The pith of the stem is believed to have medicinal qualities. It is used in the treatment of sore throats, jaundice, oedema, acute urinary tract infection and morbid crying of babies.

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The flower labeled Soft Rush is ...