Erect and densely tufted plant 30 to 150 cm tall and 1.5 to 3 mm wide, stems smooth shiny bright green to yellow-green, with no visible ridges and containing a continuous spongy pith. The lateral inflorescence may be loose, or more contracted into a close head of florets.

Other Juncus

Smooth glossy stems, bright green, no ridges or grooves.  The flowerheads can be lax and spreading, or compact.

Photo showing plant in its habitat, and detailed photo showing smooth stem

Damp grassland, marshes and bogs.

June to August.

Perennial.

Very common throughout Britain.

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 561 of the 617 tetrads.