Juncus continuus explained

Juncus continuus is a perennial plant found in many parts of Australia; namely the regions of Queensland and New South Wales. Juncus continuus has also been introduced in Great Britain and New Zealand, and invasive in Texas. Often growing on sandy, moist soils, near fresh water. The specific epithet refers to the continuous pith within the stems. Basal leaves are reduced to sheaths, colored yellow/brown and split at the base.^{[1] [2]} While the Juncus continuus is a fairly new discovery, its plant family has been documented for many years. First beginning in a journal published by Johann Friedrich Gmelin titled, "Systema Naturae" between 1788 and 1793.^[3] The Juncus Continuus, like it’s many cousins, is a flowering plant, sporting clusters of small brown flowers on the ends of leaf-like stems.^[4]

Characteristics

This plant is described as having the following characteristics:^[5]

• 35-115 cm long culms
• 1.2-3.0 mm in diameter
• Cataphylls are 8-14 cm long^[6]
• Numerous flowers that are solitary or loosely clustered
• Straw-brown tepals
• The ellipsoid capsule of the flower is longer than, or equaling- the length of outer tepals
• The Juncaceous family is generally perennial and known as a compact rush^[7]

Further reading

• Garner . Charles W. . Behal . Francis J. . Effect of pH on substrate and inhibitor kinetic constants of human liver alanine aminopeptidase. Evidence for two ionizable active center groups . Biochemistry . 18 November 1975 . 14 . 23 . 5084–5088 . 10.1021/bi00694a009 . 38 .
• Marniemi . Jukka . Parkki . Max G. . Radiochemical assay of glutathione S-epoxide transferase and its enhancement by phenobarbital in rat liver in vivo . Biochemical Pharmacology . September 1975 . 24 . 17 . 1569–1572 . 10.1016/0006-2952(75)90080-5 . 9 .
• Moroi . Kayoko . Satoh . Tetsuo . Comparison between procaine and isocarboxazid metabolism in vitro by a liver microsomal amidase-esterase . Biochemical Pharmacology . August 1975 . 24 . 16 . 1517–1521 . 10.1016/0006-2952(75)90029-5 . 8 .
• McPhie . Peter . Origin of the alkaline inactivation of pepsinogen . Biochemistry . December 1975 . 14 . 24 . 5253–5256 . 10.1021/bi00695a003 . 44 .
• Zhu . Jiawen . Wallis . Ilka . Guan . Huade . Ross . Kirstin . Whiley . Harriet . Fallowfield . Howard . Juncus sarophorus, a native Australian species, tolerates and accumulates PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS in a glasshouse experiment . Science of the Total Environment . June 2022 . 826 . 154184 . 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154184 . 35231527 .
• Wright . Boyd R. . Franklin . Donald C. . Fensham . Roderick J. . The ecology, evolution and management of mast reproduction in Australian plants . Australian Journal of Botany . 20 December 2022 . 70 . 8 . 509–530 . 10.1071/BT22043 . free .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wilson, K.L. . Johnson, L.A.S. . Bankoff, P. . Juncus continuus . 2017-11-23 . PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online . Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia.
2. Web site: Juncus continuus . 2017-11-23 . Sutherland Group . Australian Plants Society.
3. Orskov . E. R. . Fraser . C. . 1975 . The effects of processing of barley-based supplements on rumen pH, rate of digestion of voluntary intake of dried grass in sheep . The British Journal of Nutrition . 34 . 3 . 493–500 . 10.1017/s0007114575000530 . 0007-1145 . 36.
4. 1992-01-31 . Juncus Effusus/Acutiflorus-Galium Palustre Rush-Pasture . British Plant Communities . 244–255 . 10.1017/9780521391658.027. 978-1-107-34079-4 .
5. Book: 10.1201/ebk1420095012-11 . Flying after Linnaeus: Diptera Names since Systema Naturae (1758) . Systema Naturae 250 - the Linnaean Ark . 2010 . 91–98 . 978-0-429-09291-6 . Andrew . Polaszek .
6. Book: 10.1017/9780521391658.027 . Juncus Effusus/Acutiflorus-Galium Palustre Rush-Pasture . British Plant Communities . 1992 . 244–255 . 978-1-107-34079-4 . J. S. . Rodwell .
7. Web site: Supplemental Information 5: Data on flowering plant species. . 10.7717/peerj.16900/supp-5 . free .
8. 1992-01-31 . Juncus Effusus/Acutiflorus-Galium Palustre Rush-Pasture . British Plant Communities . 244–255 . 10.1017/9780521391658.027. 978-1-107-34079-4 .
9. Web site: Supplemental Information 5: Data on flowering plant species. . 10.7717/peerj.16900/supp-5 . free .