Juncus membranaceus Royle ex D. Don

A very common species of wet places in the northern hilly regions of Pakistan from 6000-13000 ft. A fairly variable species in size and number of flowers in each head; smaller forms may be easily differentiated from the previous species by the almost included stamens with shorter anthers.

Stoloniferous, tufted perennial, (10-) 15-50 cm tall, with slender, 1-3-leaved stem. Leaves 5-15 cm x 1-2 mm, linear, subtubular to flattened, channelled, acute. Terminal flowering head simple, usually 8-20 flowered, whitish; lowest bract equalling or exceeding the head, upto 2.5 cm long. Flowers 6-7 mm long, subsessile; perianth segments subequal, inner slightly exceeding the outer, oblong-lanceolate, subobtuse. Stamens included; anthers c. 1.5 mm long. Capsules ovoid-lanceolate, 6-9 x 2.5-4 mm, brown to blackish-brown, beaked, ± exserted, many-seeded; seeds 2.5-3 mm long, including tails at both ends.

Plants perennial, 17--45 cm tall. Rhizome creeping. Stems terete, 0.8--1.5 mm in diam. Basal leaves 1 or 2, cauline leaf 1; leaf sheath auricles well developed or not, acute, ca. 1 mm; leaf blade terete, 7--14 cm, inconspicuously septate, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal; head solitary, 4--5 mm in diam., 5--20-flowered; bracts several; basal bract 6--14 mm, equaling or longer than head; others bracts yellowish, broadly ovate, shorter than head. Perianth segments yellowish white, lanceolate, ca. 6 mm, subequal or inner ones slightly longer than outer, apex obtuse or on outer segments subacute. Stamens 6; filaments slightly longer than perianth; anthers ca. 2 mm. Capsule chestnut brown, shiny, trigonous ovoid, longer than perianth, apex mucronate. Seeds oblong, ca. 1 mm; appendages 2, white, caudate, ca. 1 mm. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jul--Aug.

Himalaya (Kashmir to Sikkim).

Distribution: Pakistan, Kashmir, N.W. Himalayas, Karakoram and Afghanistan.

Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].

3000-3700 m

Fl.Per.: May-October.

Meadows on mountain slopes, by ravines, trail sides; 3000--4000 m.