Rushes
Juncus spp.
Family: Juncaceae
Examples: J. acutiflorus, J.articulatus, J. castaneus, J. effusus, J. squarrosus, J. subnodulosus, J. trifidus
Fire effect on plant
Rush species are likely top-killed by fire, but basal buds and rhizomes survive (Wehking, 2002; Clarke, 1991). The effects of fire on rush mortality may depend upon the depth of any standing water and soil moisture. On flooded sites, and on sites with exposed but saturated soils, fire may consume aboveground plant portions but leave underground regenerative structures unharmed (Uchytil, 1992).
Key traits
Rushes have rhizomes under the soil or water surface (depending upon the habitat). They dominate on wetter sites which means their biomass has high moisture levels and therefore has a low flammability. Rush seeds may survive fire in the soil or may be carried into burnt sites by the wind (Stasiak, 1994), and emerge soon after fire (Valbuena & Trabaud, 2001).
Rushes have the potential to generate a long-lived seed bank (Thompson et al, 1997) due to the huge number of small, viable seeds produced by each parent plant on each fruiting
occasion. Seed dispersal is presumably by water (hydrochory), with secondary modes including animal dispersal. Fire effects on seed viability is not described.
Plant response to fire
Rushes have a high tolerance to fire. As such, regular burning can be used as a method of maintaining rush vigour (Hackney & de la Cruz, 1981) but is ineffective in controlling or reducing rush populations (Richards & Clapham, 1941).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowering May to August.
Conservation status
BAP - Juncus pygmaeus.
References
Clark, David Lee. 1991. The effect of fire on Yellowstone ecosystem seed banks. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 115 p. Thesis. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Hackney, Courtney T.; de la Cruz, Armando A. 1981. Effects of fire on brackish marsh communities: managment implications. Wetlands. 1: 75-86 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Stasiak, Jadwiga. 1994. Age structure of Juncus balticus Willd. coenopopulations and changes in individual's characters during primary succession. Ekologia Polska. 42(3-4): 173-205 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Thompson K, Bakker J P, Bekker R M. 1997. Soil seed banks of NW Europe: methodology,density and longevity. Cambridge University Press. 276 pp [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Uchytil, Ronald J. 1992. Juncus roemerianus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/graminoid/junroe/all.html [2024, February 2]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Richards P W & Clapham A R (1941e). Juncus subnodulosa Schrank. The Journal of Ecology 29 (2), 385-391 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Valbuena, L., Trabaud, L. (2001). Contribution of the soil seed bank to post-fire recovery of a heathland. Plant Ecology 152: 175-183 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Wehking, Pamela Mebine. 2002. The role of the seedbank in the restoration of a basin big sagebrush-dominated riparian ecosystem to a dry meadow. Reno, NV: University of Nevada. 35 p. Thesis. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]