• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  • Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences
A Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Identify a Plant
  • FAQs
    • FAQs List
    • Do I need a permit?
    • Glossary
  • AquaExtension Events & Learning
  • Videos
  • Get Help

Torrey’s Rush

Juncus torreyi

Torrey's Rush Locations in North America
Torrey's Rush Locations in Southeast US

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 / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 478.

What is Torrey’s Rush?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Wide near base
  • Small near tip
  • Growing upward

Flowers:

  • Smaller than the flower stalk
  • 25-50 flowers per stalk
  • Closely clustered
  • Brownish petals
  • Petals shorter than sepals
  • 6 anthers

Flower Stalk:

  • 0.78-4 inches long
  • 5-10 heads

Sepals:

  • Sword-shaped
  • 0.16-0.2 inches long
  • brownish in color

Fruit:

  • Dry seed pod
  • Brownish
  • 3-sided

Stem:

  • Long rhizomes
  • Flowering
  • Hollow
  • Upright
  • 1-3.25 feet long
  • 0.08-0.16 inches thick

Where Does it Grow?

Torrey’s rush can be found along ponds, streams, lakes, wet meadows, ditches and seepage areas.

Pros and Cons of Torrey’s 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.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

AquaExtension Newsletter

Receive updates on upcoming webinars and newly published materials.

Sign Up Now

Newsletter Archive

Upcoming Events

Jan 21
Featured Featured January 21 @ 6:00 pm - October 21 @ 7:30 pm CST

2025 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle

Jul 8
Featured Featured 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm CDT

Sizing up a Pond For Realtors & New Landowners

Jul 22
Featured Featured 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm CDT

Pond Management Myth Busting 101: Water Quality Webinar

View Calendar

Search for a type of plant

Hire a Professional Contact Your Ag & Natural Resource Agent Aquatic Plant Nurseries Aquatic Herbicide Tables
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Member

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Click to view full permission and citation information

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veteran's Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information