Juncaceae - Rush family

Annual or perennial herbs. Roots fibrous. Leaves grass-like or cylindric, sheathing at the base. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate or paniculate, the flowers solitary or in capitula; bracts leaf-like, scarious or membranous; bracteoles sometimes present. Flowers bisexual. Perianth segments 6, in two series, subequal, green or brown, usually membranous at the edges. Stamens 3 or 6. Carpels 3, joined; ovary superior, 1- or 3-locular; stigmas 3. Fruit a many-seeded loculicidal capsule.

Worldwide: 7 genera and 430 species in temperate and cold areas of the world and on mountains in the tropics.