Distichia muscoides Nees & Meyen

• Authority

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

• Family

  Juncaceae

• Scientific Name

  Distichia muscoides Nees & Meyen

• Type

  Type. Peru. Puno: Pisa-coma, 4500 m, Apr 1831, Meyen s.n. (holotype, n.v., probably destroyed at B; isotypes, BR!, P!, photo QCA!).

• Synonyms

  Goudotia tolimensis M.J.Decne., Distichia tolimensis (Decne.) Buchenau, Agapatea peruviana Steud. ex Lechl., Gaimardia boliviana Pax

• Description

  Species Description - Perennial herbs forming dense, hard cushions up to several meters diam. Single plants consisting of 5-15 cm long, more or less regularly forked shoots, covered by short, strictly distichous, persistent, stramineous or rarely dark brown, wilted leaves; only the 2 or 3 distal leaves green and projecting above the cushion. Leaves 1-2 cm long, inserted 1-2 mm apart; sheaths usually 2/3 of entire leaf length, open, wide, V-shaped in x.s., with narrow and scariose margins, almost completely clasping the sheath of the leaf above; blade bluntly acute. Flowers in leaf axil, near shoot apex. Tepals subequal, 4-7 mm long. Staminate flowers on 1-2 cm long, filiform pedicels. Stamens 2-3.5 mm long; filaments 1/10-1/5 as long as the anthers; anthers 1.8-3 mm long. Pistillate flowers hidden in the sheath of the supporting leaf with only the stigmas projecting above the shoot apex; style filiform, exceeding the tepals; stigmas ½ as long as the style. Gynophore stretching at fruit ripening, lifting the capsule slightly above the cushion. Capsule ellipsoid to ovoid, apically acute to slightly apiculate or obtuse, 5-7 x 2.5-3.5 mm, irregularly dehiscing, yellow brown, unilocular. Seeds oblong, 1-1.5 x 0.5-1 mm, covered by a thick white outer seed coat.

• Discussion

  Distribution and Ecology: Distichia muscoides is distributed in the Andes from Colombia to northern Argentina and is characteristic of the high-altitude páramo and puna vegetation. It has been collected at altitudes as low as 3600 m but is much more common at 4000-4600 m. It forms dense and very hard cushions, up to several meters diam., which in boggy depressions often provide the only secure foothold for the wanderer. On slopes with high precipitation it may create bizarre protruding formations.

• Common Names

  Champa, foja cuncush, Llano duro

• Distribution

  Colombia South America| Arauca Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Meta Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Risaralde Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Imbabura Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Ancash Peru South America| Arequipa Peru South America| Ayacucho Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Junín Peru South America| La Libertad Peru South America| Lima Peru South America| Pasco Peru South America| Puno Peru South America| Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Oruro Bolivia South America|