This species of rush with a Mediterranean-Macaronesian distribution is common in Italy all along the coasts, rare in the interior. It grows on wet, often salty, sandy to clay soils. In Sardinia it is sporadic on the edge of the temporary ponds, in contact with coastal salt marshes. The species is edible, especially the rhizome. It is one of the species which were most commonly used in crafts; once it was also used in the preparation of pasta (spaghetti and bucatini), where the stems were used to spin it. The genus name, from the Latin 'iúngere' (to join, to tie), refers to the ancient use of weaving the stems and leaves of rush species to create different objects; the species name comes from the Greek 'ake' (tip, needle), referring to the leaves which end in a sharp point. Flowering period: April to July.

Italian name(s): Giunco acuto (Italia), Giunco che buca (Toscana), Giunco da macelleri (Roma), Giunco marino (Toscana), Giunco pungente (Italia), Giunco pungente (Toscana), Giuncu (Sardegna), Grulo (Veneto, Verona), Junco (Sardegna), Juncu di liari (Sicilia, Avola), Juncu pungenti (Sicilia), Palud tond (Friuli), Vruddu (Calabria), Vucculu (Calabria), Zoncolo (Veneto, Verona), Zunco marin (Liguria).