Soft or common rush is native to Eurasia, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is at home in acidic, wet soils, such as pond or
swamp edges. The attractive-looking clumps are sometimes used in landscaping.
Plants: Soft rush reaches 2-4′ (60-121 cm) in height, growing
in clumps ("tussocks") 2-4′ (60-121 cm) around. Individual stems resemble grass from a distance, but up close, they are
smooth and round, filled with a light pith, and soft to the touch. At the base of each stem there is a dark
"basal sheath" 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) long.
Leaves: A reddish or brown sheath at the bottom of each stem.
Flowers: The most notable characteristic is the flower clusters, with 30-100 flowers, which
stick out sideways from partway up the stem, looking rather lopsided. Actually, the flowers
are at the stem tips, but a bract (specialized leaf) continues upward, looking like a continuation
of the stem.
Tiny, barely noticeable flowers are yellowish-green to pale
brown.
Fruits: Brown oval capsules about 1/16-⅛″ (2-3.5 mm) long, which split open into three parts,
releasing tiny seeds about 1/32″ (0.5 mm) in size. Each seed is long, flattened, roughly elliptical,
and brown.