The pith is not solid throughout the culm, generally having large, non-continuous air pockets throughout the stem.

The basal sheaths are shiny at the base, and range in colour between dark yellow-brown and chestnut brown.

[5] The inflorescence appears in a lateral formation, with “flowers clustered at the ends of stroud branchlet tips; sometimes condensed into a globose head”.

[5] The tepals of the flowers are straw-like and have a lightly coloured reddish-brown band, running longitudinally on either side of the stramineous midrib.

[7] The variation of the species found on the Southern Tablelands also has more tightly clustered heads when compared with Juncus australis plants growing at lower altitudes.

[4] The blue-green coloration is also unique to Juncus australis, making it easily identifiable, particularly in New Zealand.

[9] The mucilaginous coating provides a hydrophobic and waxy seal that assists in floatation, allowing the seeds to disperse easily through movements of water.

[10] Wind dispersal is aided by propagules with a high surface area to volume ratio, increasing the potential dispersal range through increased air resistance, allowing the propagules to travel further.

[11]  Due to the various propagation methods, Juncus australis plants are easily grown from fresh seeds.

[1] Juncus australis is a perennial rush species, meaning that its lifespan extends beyond a single year.

[6] The species typically grows in poorly drained soils with a high clay content.

[4] The species is often found in swampy ground and damp pasture, ranging from sea level to the sub-alpine areas.

[13] While Juncus australis grows in predominantly wet areas of grasslands, it is a hardy plant species.

Juncus australis has been seen to grow effectively in areas that have experienced a level of human disturbance.

Further, the development of human made infrastructure, such as drainage lines that produce a similar environment to creek lines or riverbeds, have created more places for the species to grow in, leading some to suggest that Juncus australis has a greater range now than prior to European settlement.

The species is not being intentionally planted anywhere, but grows and spreads across its habitats through its effective organic propagation mechanisms.

The species has also been noted on Norfolk Island, an external Australian territory to the nation’s east.

Due to its growth patterns in wetlands and damp soils,[1] Juncus australis is a useful species to plant along bodies of water, such as edging for dams and waterways, as it can help with bank stabilisation.

[18] This is reflected in the etymology of the name, as juncus comes from the Latin word ‘jungere’, meaning to tie or bind, identifying the usage of the stems to make cord.