Black Needle Rush, Juncas margenatus
This salt-loving “leafless” rush can cover large areas in coastal salt and brackish tidal marshes, and is easily recognizable by its characteristic grayish-green to blackish hues. Its “stem tips” are very sharp pointed and stout. “Stems” in this species are actually leaves that are rounded so tightly that they appear to be very sharp-pointed stems. This Juncus is one of 21 species located in Florida (Wunderlin, 2003). Black needlerush occurs in the southern US, and extends north to DE and west to TX (Kartesz, 1999).
Black needle rush is a true rush. From rhizomes; stems to 5 ft. tall, grayish green; leaf blades stem-like, long, stiff, round, with very sharp points; inflorescence stiffish, erect branches, flowers at the tips of branches and branchlets; seed capsules in clusters of 2-6, 3-sided, dark brown, shiny.
The Way 