Sharp-flowered Rush
Juncus acutiflorus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncus_acutiflorus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Juncaceae
Genus
Juncus
Sharp-flowered Rush belongs to the family Juncaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Sharp-flowered Rush faces severe threats from wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural intensification, drainage projects, and urban development. Climate change-induced alterations to hydrological regimes and increased frequency of extreme weather events further compromise the specialized acidic wetland conditions this species requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Acidic wetlands, marshy grasslands, bog margins, and wet heathlands, typically in areas with nutrient-poor, waterlogged soils. The species is particularly associated with seasonally flooded depressions and the edges of ponds, streams, and ditches in moorland and upland regions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Sharp-flowered Rush faces severe threats from wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural intensification, drainage projects, and urban development. Climate change-induced alterations to hydrological regimes and increased frequency of extreme weather events further compromise the specialized acidic wetland conditions this species requires for survival.
Hydrological regime changes from climate change
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Wetland drainage and conversion to agriculture
Habitat fragmentation
Water pollution from agricultural runoff
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Sharp-flowered Rush (Juncus acutiflorus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/sharp-flowered-rush