Poverty Rush

Juncus tenuis

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database 

What is Poverty Rush?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

• Flat
• 0.02-0.03 inches wide
• Soft
• Almost as long as the stem

Flowers:

• 1.19-3.5 inches long
• About 1/4-1/5 the height of the plant
• 15-25 flowers
• Branches 0.01 inches thick
• Standing alone

Sepals:

• 0.13-0.16 inches long
• Greenish-white
• Sharply pointed
• Soft

Fruit:

• Dry seed pod
• Egg-shaped

Stem:

• 316-17.72 inches tall
• Hallow
• About 0.02 inches thick

Where Does it Grow?

Poverty rush can be found in wet sands and along the edges of ponds, lakes, and streams.

Pros and Cons of Poverty Rush

Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.