Many thanks Garg ji.
I checked on the internet about the scope of these species.
Following was the response:
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Since it was a roadside damp patch and the flowers sprouted from the side, you likely saw
Juncus effusus (Common/Soft Rush).
In the Nilgiris, this species often colonises the drainage ditches
and seepages along roads where water accumulates. The "side-flowering"
look is actually an optical illusion: the stem technically ends at the
flower cluster, but a single, sharp bract continues upward, looking exactly like a continuation of the stem.
Another (though less likely) possibility for that specific "side-sprouting" look in the Nilgiris is Juncus inflexus (Hard Rush). You can tell them apart by the stem texture:
- Juncus effusus: Smooth, bright green stems.
- Juncus inflexus: Ridged/striated, grey-green (glaucous) stems.
Given your "bouquet" description and the 2-foot height, Juncus effusus is the most frequent roadside resident in that area.
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If the stems look
smooth in your photo, that clinches the identification as
Juncus effusus (Common or Soft Rush).
The
"side-sprouting" flowers you saw are its most famous identifying
feature. While it looks like the flowers are popping out of the
side of the stem, the part of the plant above the flower is actually a bract (a modified leaf) that mimics the stem perfectly to protect the developing seeds.
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Garg ji, for now, I am labelling my posted plant as Juncus effusus L.
Many thanks.
Regards.
Dinesh