32 

 NEEDLERUSH 



BOTANICAL 



Many kinds of rushes (Juncus) grow on moist soil or in water 

 in various parts of the United States, but needlerush {J. roemeri- 

 anus) is the only one of major importance as a weed in waterfowl 

 habitat. This tall, needle-pointed plant dominates thousands of 

 acres of brackish coastal marshlands from Maryland to Texas. 

 It is perennial and spreads by rootstocks as well as by seeds. The 

 common rush (J. effiisus) frequents meadows and other moist 

 sites but generally is of lesser importance as a weed. 



IMPORTANCE 



Needlerush provides excellent cover for rails and is also useful 

 as cover for black ducks and other waterfowl in some places. 

 However, its minute seeds are eaten only rarely by ducks, and 

 in many marshes it limits usefulness of the habitat for waterfowl 

 and muskrats. 



The weed status of this plant varies in different marshes or 

 in different parts of the same marsh. Besides being beneficial 

 as cover in some flooded sites and detrimental in many others, it 

 is neither harmful nor useful wherever standing water is so 

 limited in extent or duration that waterfowl would not use the 

 area even if needlerush growths were destroyed. 



