Soft rush or common rush (Juncus effusus) is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant species in the family Juncaceae. It is nearly cosmopolitan, considered native in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, and naturalized in Australia, Madagascar, and various oceanic islands. It is found growing in wet areas, such as the purple moor-grass and rush pastures and fen-meadow plant associations in the United Kingdom.t grows in large clumps about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) tall at the water's edge along streams and ditches, but can be invasive anywhere with moist soil. It is commonly found growing in humus-rich areas like marshes, ditches, fens, and beaver dams.
The stems are smooth cylinders with light pith filling. The yellowish inflorescence appears to emerge from one side of the stem about 20 centimetres (8 in) from the top. In fact the stem ends there; the top part is the bract, that continues with only a slight colour-band marking it from the stem. The lower leaves are reduced to a brown sheath at the bottom of the stem.
Soft rush can become invasive because of its unpalatability to livestock. Suggested methods of controlling rushes are
- Ploughing
- Drainage
- High applications of inorganic fertiliser, coupled with taking silage crops. However application of farm yard manure is ineffective
- Topping, i.e. to prevent seed formation and distribution into the soil, followed by autumn or winter flooding for a week or two
Burning is ineffective because the plant remains green through the winter.
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