Juncus parviflorus Ehrhart, Beitr. Naturk. 6: 139. 1791.

Plants usually laxly tufted, 16--60 cm tall. Stems terete, 1.2--3.5 mm in diam. Basal leaves grasslike; leaf blade 4--12 cm × 5--10 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate. Cauline leaves 2 or 3. Inflorescence terminal or occasionally axillary, umbel-like, more than 30-flowered; basal involucral bract leaflike, 2.5--4 cm. Flower solitary; pedicel slender; bracteoles ovate, margin subentire to lacerate. Perianth segments pale purplish red to brownish, lanceolate, 1.5--2.2 × ca. 0.8 mm, subequal, apex acute. Filaments ca. 0.5 mm; anthers ca. 0.5 mm. Style shorter than or subequaling ovary; stigmas ca. 1 mm. Capsule blackish brown at maturity, trigonous ovoid, ca. 2 mm, apex mucronate. Seeds reddish brown, ellipsoid, ca. 1.3 mm; appendage inconspicuous. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug--Sep. 2 n = 24.

Forested slopes; rock crevices; 2200--2400 m. Xinjiang [Mongolia; Europe, North America].