Juncus megacephalus
(Juncus is an ancient name for rushes. Megacephalus means big head.)
Juncaceae, the Rush Family
Sometimes a plant deserves attention for merely being a curiosity. Somewhat mysteriously, a number of marshy wetland species pack their flowers and fruits into spherical heads on wands that bend and blow in the wind, conking the ball-shaped heads into each other. Examples include Tracy’s Beaksedge, Sparganium, and today’s Bighead Rush. There must be something good in the marshy environment about globes. Gets the imagination going, although the benefit might be mutual protection of the flowers and fruits, circling the wagons, blocking pests, maybe holding water, or buffering temperature extremes. Does knocking together as the wind blows help with cross-pollination? Later, do the impacts help knock the balls apart and disperse the seeds?
In any case, the well-named Big Head Rush is a prime example. The rushes dominate sandy/muddy shores inundated part of the year and exposed the rest of the year. In short, sometimes very very wet and other times in the miniature desert of a dried sandy shore.
The heads are not the only curiosity. Like many aquatic (and additional) plants, the base where the plant meets the earth is bright red. This phenomenon is better-known in more- prominent plants, for example, sugar canes, dyes coming from the leaf sheaths in some sorghums CLICK, , or red leaf bases helping to distinguish cultivars of rice. The red comes from pigments known as anthocyanins, familiar in red petals or in red fruits as attractants to pollinators and to seed-dispersers. Familiar also as “sunscreen” in young or stressed foliage. Recent research has shown anthocyanins to be also anti-fungal, so maybe reddish, or purplish, or blackish fruits are fighting fungi instead of just attracting birds..
Bright red at the base.
Fungal protection makes sense where the plant meets the ground, perhaps especially so in species with wet bases for long spells. It isn’t just Bighead Rush. Similar red bases appear in the marsh in Xyris, Sagittaria, Alligator-Flags, and varied grasses and sedges.
Bighead Rush leaves look like knitting needles, technically called terete (teh-REET) leaves. That shape is often associated with hot, sunny, dry habitats where a normal leaf blade is vulnerable to drying and exposure. Actually it serves a purpose at both extremes…standing up to hot and dry when necessary, and during the wet season acting like an air-pipe being filled with soft porous material between reinforcing dividers, as in bamboo.
On the inside the knitting needle leaf is a reinforced air pipe.
John Bradford
George Rogers
George Rogers
Dee Staley
Treasure Coast Natives 
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Ann and Phil Weinrich
July 18, 2020 at 8:21 pm
George, this is Ann and Phil Weinrich – two of your long-time biggest fans. We have forwarded your blog to many of our native plant buddies, and they were surprised to hear of your retirement from PBSC.
We hope you will be continuing your amazing botanical adventures.
If possible, we’d like to be in touch personally. Please let us know.
And don’t ever stop having plant expeditions.
Warmly, Ann and Phil
George Rogers
July 19, 2020 at 11:20 am
Hi Gang, Where have your far-flung adventures taken you this summer? My Michigan son recently took a picture of a cedar waxwing, which reminded me of a years ago Phil leading the entire JHS Enviro Academy out into the parking lot to see the CWWs in the trees along Military Trail. In order to duck grouchy correct-o-saurus quibble snarks I minimize putting my personal email on the blog much, and will send it to you separately. .
Peggy King
July 21, 2020 at 3:36 pm
Congratulations on your retirement, though as a life-long learner, I can’t really imagine you not “working.” I look forward to more plant stories as you find yourself with more time. And maybe some fish stories, too!
George Rogers
August 16, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Hi Peggy…just found this! Thank you. Sure enjoy all your FB adventures….will have to make up a whopper fish story!
Lindy Cerar
July 19, 2020 at 10:07 am
Another great article about an interesting under appreciated Florida plant! Seems like a good one to plant in storm water detention ponds. Seems the only native I see used in them is spartina. Thank you, Doctor Rogers!🌿🌱🎋🌾
George Rogers
July 19, 2020 at 11:14 am
Thanks Lindy…might work if the rush not too fussy about its weird seasonal cycle. How’s summer treating you?
Lindy Cerar
August 20, 2020 at 11:18 am
All good here, thanks! I am reading this book about how wonderful our personal microbiomes can be for us-it’s like our internal soil that supplies so much live-giving nutrition, immunity, etc if we feed it we’ll. Check it out if you have a chance. And do keep me in mind if you need some company or assistance on a native plant outing. I really loved taking your botany class; your knowledge and enthusiasm lives on in your students. Stay well!🦋🌿🌻🌾🍄
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theshrubqueen
July 19, 2020 at 11:42 am
Love Juncus, corkscrew is my favorite.
George Rogers
July 19, 2020 at 1:12 pm
What’s not to love