Common Rush
Latin: Juncus effusus
Irish: Luachair
This species can be found around each of the lakes on the course, in the Builder’s Paddock and in some of the open drains around the periphery of the course.
The Common Rush is a native perennial that normally is associated with wet soils, ditches, marshes, riverbanks and lakesides. Its leaves are greatly reduced in size, often consisting of small sheaths around the base of the stems which grow in dense tufts.
Small flowers are produced during the summer in small clumps affixed to the upper part of the stems.
Centuries ago, many of our forefathers depended on this plant as a source of light. Rush-lights were primitive candles made from rushes by peeling off all but a narrow band of green rind, drying the peeled pith core, then dipping it into liquefied fat or wax. These long strips were burned in special holders designed to simplify the frequent adjustment of the rush required as it is consumed by the flame.
