Juncus gerardii Loisel.

Perennials, (5–) 15–45 (–80) cm tall, loosely caespitose; rhizome creeping; internodes of variable length. Cataphylls 0–3; basal and sub-basal leaves 1–4 (–5); cauline leaves 0–2, ±flat, somewhat thick, (0.5–) 0.8–2.0 (–2.5) mm wide; sheaths ±green; margins membranous; auricles scarious, obtuse, c. 0.4–0.7 mm long. Lower bract leaf-like, usually 2–10 cm long, shorter than inflorescence. Inflorescence composite to decomposite, with (1–) 2–4 (–6) main branches, c. (1–) 5–10 (–15) cm long, 5–120-flowered, of several loose unilateral cymes. Bracteoles ovate, obtuse, c. 1.0–1.5 mm long, usually membranous and suffused pale castaneous to dark brown. Tepals subequal, 2.5–3.8 mm long, obtuse; outer tepals rarely minutely mucronate; central band green to dark castaneous-brown, bordered dark castaneous-brown; margins broad, membranous or scarious or dark brownish. Stamens 6; anthers 1.1–2.2 mm long, 2–4 (–5) times as long as filaments; style c. (0.5–) 0.7–1.0 mm long; stigmas c. 1.5–2.0 mm long. Capsule ±trilocular, ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, c. 2.5–3.8 mm long, ±obtuse, castaneous to dark brown, rarely paler, subequalling to slightly exceeding perianth. Seeds ±ellipsoid, apiculate, c. 0.5–0.7 × 0.25–0.3 mm, brown, c. 11–16-striate, transversely reticulate.