Juncus bufonius

Juncus bufonius L., Sp. pl. 1: 328 (1753). Type: “in Europe inundatis” Herb. A. van Royen 904.145-433 (lectotype L (n.v.), fide Cope and Stace, Watsonia 2: 121. 1978). Figs. 5 , 6 Juncus prolifer Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 236 (1816). Type: Colombia. Tolima: Quindío near Paso de Machin, A. von Humboldt & A. J. Bonpland s.n. (lectotype P; isolectotype B). Annual, cespitose herbs, 5-40 cm tall. Rhizome absent. Culms erect, procumbent or ascending, terete, smooth, 0.5- 1.5 mm diameter, sometimes producing foliar shoots in leaf axils on procumbent stems. Cataphylls absent or rarely one to each culm and then inconspicuous, membranous, 7-12 mm long. Foliar leaves 1-5 basal and 1-3 cauline to each culm, 4-15 cm long; sheaths 0.5-3 cm long, with membranous margin which is not extended into auricles; blade flat with raised margins, slightly channeled above, 0.5-1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence usually occupying more than half of the total plant height, lax, compound, consisting of several unilateral cymes (drepania) with the flowers inserted individually and emoved from one another, or rarely 2-4 flowers clustered together, individual drepania up to 10 cm long; lower inflorescence bract resembling cauline leaf, 4 -15 cm long, distal bracts progressively shorter, the ultimate ones to 5 mm long and membranous; each flower clasped by two 1.5-2.5 mm long bracteoles. Tepals unequal, lanceolate, acuminate, light green with membranous margins, turning brown at fruit ripening, outer ones 4-6(-7) mm long, inner ones 3.5-5(-6) mm long. Stamens six, 1.3-2.2(-2.6) mm long; anthers linear or oblong, 0.3-1(-1.5) mm long. Capsule ellipsoid, trigonous, truncate and mucronate, 3-4 x 1.5-2 mm, with persisting 0.1-0.3 mm long style, castaneous at maturity, dehiscing apically, 3-locular. Seeds oblong, apiculate, 0.4-0.6 x 0.2-0.3 mm, smooth to slightly rugose, yellow-brown Distribution and habitat. J. bufonius is a weedy cosmopolitan species most common in the north temperate region but it is also found in the cool highlands of all tropics and occurs in all major southern temperate areas. It is most often found in open and exposed soils along roads, ditches, etc. Its altitudinal range is wider than that of most other Juncus species, occurring between 350 and 4000 m. In Colombia this species has been collected from center to north of the Andes, at elevations of 1000-3600 m. Comments. J. bufonius is the only annual species of Juncus found in Colombia. It may furthermore be recognized by its very loose inflorescence which usually occupies more than half the height of the plant, and by the leaf sheaths which do not form auricles at the junction to the leaf blade. Morphologically J. bufonius is variable and in Europe and the Middle East it has been treated as a complex of closely related micro-species (Cope & Stace 1978; Loenhoud & Sterk 1976; Snogerup 1971, 1980; Krechetovich & Goncharov 1935). J. prolifer is based on a large specimen from Colombia. Representative specimens. Antioquia: municipio Jardín, vía Jardín -Ríosucio km 13, 2100-2400 m, 8 Jun 1987, Callejas 3829, fl (COL, MO); Urrao, páramo de Frontino, Llano Grande, 3420 m, 15 Sep 1984, LondoWo 556, fl (COL); Urrao, páramo de Frontino, Churumblum, 3310 m, 12 Sep 1984, LondoWo 469, fl (COL); Medellín, cerro del Padre Amaya, Boquerón, 4 Aug 1979, Palacios 24, fr (COL); Urrao, páramo de Frontino, 3380 m, 10 Sep 1986, Roldán 312 (AAU, MO, NY). Boyacá: Tunja, 2820 m, 5 Jul 1973, Ballesteros-G. 7, fl (COL); river Pomeca valley 13 km NW ofArcabuco, 2850 m, 20 Aug 1944, Fassett 25641, fr (US); Sierra Nevada del Cocuy below El Playon, 3500 m, 11 Sep 1957, Grubb 791, fl (COL, K, US); Ventaquemada, 2 Jun 1971, Guarín-M. 952, fl (COL); Aquitania, lago de Tota, 3015 m, 4 Aug 1953, Mora-Osejo 1229, fl (COL). Caldas: páramo de Letras, 3700 m, 4 Dec 1958, H. G. Barclay 6266, fl (COL, MO, US). Cundinamarca: páramo de Palacio, río Negro, 3375 m, 22 May 1972, Cleef 3938, fl (COL, US); Bogotá, San Cristóbal, 2700 m, 12 Apr 1932, Cuatrecasas 2064 (B); Bogotá, Universidad Nacional, 2600 m, 28-29 Apr 1986, Fernández-Alonso 6404, fr (COL); 5 km SW of Bogotá on road to Usme, 2800 m, 4 Aug 1950, Galen-Smith 1317, fr (B, COL, MO, NY, US); Zipaquira, 2600 m, 20-24 Oct 1917, Pennell 2557, fr (F, GH, MO, NY, US). Nariño: Ipiales, páramo El Culttixn, vía a la Victoria, 3000 m, 25 Nov 2006, Baca 887 (COL). Norte de Santander: Valley of River Chitaga, SW of Pamplona, 2600 m, 19 Oct 1944, Fassett 25942, fr (NY, US); Sarare road 10 km S of Pamplona, 2600 m, 29 Nov 1944, Fassett 26037, fl (US); MutiscuaPamplona, 2700-3400 m, 23 Feb 1927, Killip 19698, fl (COL, NY, US); Pamplona -Toledo road at divide between rivers La Teja and Mesme, 2500-2800 m, 28 Feb 1927, Killip 19889, fr (COL, NY, US). Risaralda: municipio Pereira, Parque Natural Regional Ucumarí, La Pastora-Peña Bonita, 2300-2600 m, 22 Nov 1989, G. Galeano 2138, fr (COL); Santa Rosa de Cabal, arriba de Termales, 16 Sep 1993, Katib 113 (COL). Santander: páramo de Santurbán, 3600 m, 2800 m, 27 Aug 1948, Araque-Molina 18S694, fl (COL, US); along highway between Vélez and Barbosa, 2 km W of Barbosa, 2 May 1983, Croat 56935 (NY). Tolima: Ibague, corregimiento de Laureles, inspección de Dantas, finca Alondra, 1700 m, 29 Jan 1979, Echeverry-E. 3235, fl (COL); Quindío highway between Cajamarca and summit of Divide, 2438 m, 27-28 Mar 1939, Killip 34538, fl (AAU, COL, F, GH, MO, NY, P, S, US).

Juncus

Callejas 3829
Londo 556
Londo 469
Ballesteros 7
Grubb 791
Guarín 952
Aug 3015
Cleef 3938
Baca 887
Killip 19698
Killip 19889
Galeano 2138
Katib 113
Killip 34538

Juncaceae