Short rhizomes creating dense tuft of tough, wiry leaves that arise mostly from the base; leaves deeply channelled on top, rounded underneath.  Lowest bracts much shorter than flowerhead; outer 3 tepals sharply pointed. 

other Juncus

Photograph of the plant in its habitats, and photograph details of inflorescence

Damp heaths and moors on acid soils.

Flowering June and July.

Perennial.

Widespread in much of Britain but scarcer in some central and eastern areas of Britain. It can be abundant in suitable areas but absent from others.

Nearly scarce in Leicestershire and Rutland, but can be locally frequent in Charnwood Forest.   In the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi and Evans 1988) it was found in 11 of the 617 tetrads.

It was on the 2011 VC55 Rare Plant Register (Jeeves, 2011) but does not meet the criteria for the current RPR (Hall and Woodward, 2022)