Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Juncus saximontanus [Juncus ensifolius var. montanus] [Juncus ensifolius var. saximontanus] [Verojuncus saximontanus] [Juncus brunnescens] etc.
Family
Poaceae
CommonName
Rocky Mountain rush
Presence
yes
Status
native
EarliestDate
1896
LatestDate
2013
Ecosystem
foothill, montane, subalpine
Geobotanical
SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, NCristos
Counties
Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache, Archuleta
Passes
Cumbres, La Manga
WildlifePreserves
Baca
Other Localities
Comments
NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. Following BONAP and POWO as of 2025, this inventory treats Rocky Mountain rush (Juncus saximontanus) and swordleaf rush (Juncus ensifolius) as two separate species. FNA distinguishes the two taxa as follows: Juncus ensifolius (sensu stricto) has three stamens; Juncus saximontanus (under the synonym Juncus ensifolius var. montanus) has six stamens. J. saximontanus then has a wide distribution in the Watershed, having been vouchered as such (although often under the name "Juncus ensifolius var. montanus") from both east and west mountain ranges and at elevations ranging from foothill to subalpine. The USA distribution is all Western states. The species follows the Rio Grande drainage solidly through New Mexico and on down to and including the Big Bend region of Texas. Note that Ackerfield (2022) treats Juncus saximontana as a synonym for Juncus ensifolius.