Juncus oxycarpus E.Mey. ex Kunth

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial, sometimes decumbent and rooting and branching at the nodes; stems 10–30 cm long

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5 per stem; blades 5–25 cm long and 1–3 mm thick, cylindric, transversely septate; sheaths green or greyish brown, wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of one sessile globose head of flowers usually subtended by 1–5 stalked heads, and sometimes with additional stalked heads from the base of some stalked primary heads, giving a total of up to 10–20 heads; heads 8–15 mm in diam., often consisting of 20 or more flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals equal, 3.5–4.5 mm long, acute, green to light brown when young, turning dark reddish brown when mature

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 2.5–3.5 mm long, oblong with apiculate apex, rather shiny, usually light brown below and dark reddish brown to almost black above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.35–0.45 mm long, ovoid, reticulate.

Distribution

N2 Ethiopia, East Africa and southwards to the Cape.

Ecology

Altitude range 1300–1500 m.