Practical
Plants

Juncus effusus

Soft Rush

a perennial member of the Juncus genus in the family Juncaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Juncaceae
Genus
Juncus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Possibly toxic to mammals[19].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - raw[3][14]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pith of the stem is antiphlogistic, depurative, discutient, diuretic, febrifuge, lenitive, lithontripic, pectoral and sedative[4][7][8][11][13]. It is used in the treatment of sore throats, jaundice, oedema, acute urinary tract infection and morbid crying of babies[7].

Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Lenitive
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Stems are used in basket making, thatching, weaving mats etc[12][15][18][20][2][6]. The stems can also be dried then twisted or braided into ropes for tying or binding[14]. Stems can be peeled (except for a small spine which is left to keep them upright) and soaked in oil then used as a candle[16][15][17][2]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper[9]. The stems are harvested in late summer or autumn, they are split and cut into usable pieces and then soaked for 24 hours in clear water. They are then cooked for 2 hours with lye and beaten in a blender. The fibres make an off-white paper[9]. When mixed with mulberry fibres they can be used for making stencil paper[9]. The whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[1][18][2].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Lighting
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Strewing
Product or use
String
Product or use
Thatching
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
Throughout the northern temperate zone, including Britain, east and south Africa, Australasia.
Habitat
Wet pastures, bogs, damp woods etc, usually on acid soils[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow in pots in a cold frame in early spring and keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently, otherwise in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a moist soil, bog garden or shallow water[1][10]. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

    ↩

  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  7. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  9. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  12. Wright. D. Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry. David and Charles 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-7449-4

    ↩

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  15. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

    ↩

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  18. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩1↩2

  19. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

  20. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩

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