Kellogg's dwarf rush facts for kids

Juncus kelloggii is a tiny plant often called Kellogg's dwarf rush. It belongs to the rush family, which includes many grass-like plants. This small rush grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to California in the United States. It likes to grow in wet places, like damp meadows or special seasonal ponds called vernal pools.

What is Kellogg's Dwarf Rush?

Kellogg's dwarf rush is a very small plant. It is an annual herb, which means it lives for only one growing season. It grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies, all within a year.

How Does It Look?

This little plant forms small, thick groups of stems. These stems are thin like hair and have a reddish color. They usually grow only a few centimeters tall, which is about the length of your thumb.

A few thin, thread-like leaves grow around the base of the stems. They are also very small and delicate.

Its Tiny Flowers

At the top of each small stem, you will find a group of about three flowers. This cluster of flowers is called an inflorescence. Each flower is only about 2 or 3 millimeters long.

The flowers have a few reddish parts that curve around the developing fruit. These parts protect the tiny seeds as they grow inside.