Diversity:  grass-like, tufted (caespitose) herbs - ca. 8 genera and 400 species.

Distribution:  Worldwide, but mostly in moist, cool places in the north temperate zone with extensions into the tropical highlands.  The Texas flora includes 2 genera (Juncus, Luzula) and 34 species in Texas (see North American taxa).

Floral structure:

Significant features:  Small, reduced flowers on grass-like (tufted or caespitose) plants but differing from taxa the Cyperales in that a perianth, while reduced and usually scarious (6 tepals) is present and the fruit is capsular.

developing ovaries and perianth	infructescence with dehisced capsules and perianth	typical plant and habitat (wetland)

plant in flower	infructescence	flower (close)

More information on the Juncaceae