Juncus procerus E.Mey.

  • Authority

    Balslev, Henrik. 1996. Juncaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 68: 1-167. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Juncaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Juncus procerus E.Mey.

  • Type

    Type. Chile. Chamisso s.n. (n.v., not at B, possibly at LE).

  • Synonyms

    Juncus valdiviae Steud., Juncus pallidus var. triandrus Cheeseman

  • Description

    Species Description - Perennial, densely cespitose, herbs, 60-140 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, 4-8 mm diam., with brown scales, internodes short and the culms arising in densely crowded rows. Culms erect, terete, 1-5 mm diam., striate by longitudinal, subepidermal sclerenchyma strands, pith aerenchymatous with asteriform cells, interrupted by empty parts of varying length. Cataphylls (2-)3(-4) to each culm, lower one to 4 cm long, upper ones to 20 cm long, with rudimentary acicular blade to 3 mm long, unfolding and loosely sheathing or sometimes diverging from the culm, light castaneous at the base, light brown upward. Foliar leaves absent. Inflorescence pseudolateral, many flowered, lax or densely capitate, compound, cymose, consisting of several congested cymes, the ultimate ones being unilateral drepania. Lower inflorescence bract appearing as a continuation of the culm, 5-10 cm long, constituting less than Vio of the total plant height, usually with a conspicuous constriction where it joins the culm; distal bracts scariose, progressively shorter, the ultimate ones to 5 mm long. Each flower clasped by two 1-1.5 mm long bracteoles. Tepals unequal, lanceolate, stramineous, sometimes reddish tinged, margin never scariose, outer tepals 2.3-2.8 mm long, slightly concave, inner tepals 2.1-2.5 mm long, flat. Stamens 3, 1.11.4 mm long; anthers oblong to linear, 0.5-0.7 mm long. Capsule ellipsoid to suborbicular, 2-2.5 x ca. 1.5 mm, light brown, spontaneously dehiscing, 3-septate. Seeds asymmetrical, oblong, broad apiculate, 0.4-0.5 x ca. 0.2 mm, finely reticulate, yellow-brown.

  • Discussion

    The Ecuadorian material of Juncus procerus has been confused with J. effusus. Both species belong to Buchenau’s (1906) informal group Junci genuini valleculati, which has subepidermal sclerenchyma strands that show up externally as fine longitudinal striations. Juncus procerus is distinct in the loosely sheathing and lighter colored cataphylls, the interrupted pith, the smaller stramineous tepals, and the shorter lower inflorescence bract, which is less than 1/10 of the total plant height. The lower inflorescence bract of J. procerus usually has a constriction where it joins the culm, which is not the case in J. effusus. The nearest relative of J. procerus is J. pallidus R. Brown from Australia and New Zealand. That species has six stamens, a continuous pith, and pale green tepals occasionally tinged with red and later becoming light brown.

    Distribution and Ecology: Juncus procerus is distributed in S Chile from Concepcion to Puerto Montt, in Nequen and Chubut in Argentina, on the Juan Fernandez Islands, and in S Ecuador. It has been introduced to Australia (Beadle et al., 1972) and New Zealand (Edgar, 1964; Moore & Edgar, 1970). Engelmann's (1866) report that this species grows in San Francisco, California, U.S.A., has never been confirmed. In S Ecuador it occurs in pastures and meadows, near ponds, and along roadsides at elevations of 2400-3300 m.

  • Common Names

    totorilla, juntillo

  • Distribution

    Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America|