Forked rush

Description

Juncus dichotomus (common name is forked rush) is a monocot which belongs to the Juncaceae family of rushes. The plant is native in the Americas in temperate zones but has been introduced to other parts of the world. The species is often confused with other Juncus plants due to morphological similarity. Juncus dichotomus often is found in areas which prove to be very moist, and rainfall is a common occurrence. Juncus dichotomus is often most recognizable in the spring and summer months of the year due to its conspicuous flowers and infructescence. This plant can be difficult to identify due in part to its similar appearance to other Juncus species. Often Juncus dichotomus is overlooked because it is inconspicuous in the field, and some can be difficult to identify and some consider Juncus dichotomus a weed. Juncus dichotomus is a graminoid, a grass-like plant. Juncus dichotomus belongs to the monocot group in which it is a member of a Juncaceae family otherwise known as the rushes. While this species of rush is not tall and lacks many distinctive features making it especially hard to identify by non-specialists. In North America July through August is when Juncus dichotomus is most frequently observed. Juncus dichotomus can occur in dry sites but it thrives best in soils that are damp, such as a roadside ditches where runoff is frequent. Juncus dichotomus is native and distributed widely in the Americas in temperate zones but has been reported as introduced in other temperate climate zones. Juncus dichotomus is a more specialized species least temporarily wet habitats: riverbanks, pond margins, depressions in heaths, sometimes also near rice fields. Flowering and fruiting occurs in late spring—summer in ditches, shores, clearings, and other typically open areas, usually in sandy, well-drained (but frequently wet) soil. Juncus dichotomus usually grows in sandy soils. Any habitat that hold sufficient groundwater with stable temperate temperatures, then this location has the capability to hold a population of J. dichotomus.