Practical
Plants

Juncus tenuis

Poverty Rush

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Juncaceae
Genus
Juncus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 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.

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, there is a report that one member of this genus is possibly toxic to mammals[6]..

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.

An infusion of the plant has been given to babies to prevent lameness and also used as a wash on babies to strengthen them[4].

Material uses

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

A string made from the plant has been used to bind up dough in oak leaves for cooking bread[4].

Environment

Range
N. America. Widely naturalized and spreading in Britain.
Habitat
Moist sandy soils in woods[5]. Naturalized in Britain where it grows along roadsides, on waste ground and by field paths[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Soil textures
loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
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 or bog garden[1][3]. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade[3]. This species is closely related to J. dudleyi[2]. The seeds become very mucilaginous and are spread by becoming attached to tractor wheels etc[2].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

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

    ↩

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