Juncus bufonius L.
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Authority
Balslev, Henrik. 1996. Juncaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 68: 1-167. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Juncaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Europe. Van Royen s.n. (lectotype, L, n.v., designated by Cope and Stace, 1978; paratype, L, n.v.).
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Synonyms
Juncus prolifer Kunth, Juncus inaequalis Buchenau, Juncus bufonius var. pumilio Griseb.
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Description
Species Description - Annual, cespitose herbs, 5-40 cm tall. Rhizome absent. Culms erect, procumbent or ascending, terete, smooth, 0.5-1.5 mm diam., 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 scariose margins which are not extended into auricles; blade flat with raised margins, slightly channelled above, 0.5-1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence usually occupying >½ the total plant height, lax, compound, consisting of several unilateral cymes (drepania) with the flowers inserted individually and removed 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 scariose. Each flower clasped by two 1.5-2.5 mm long bracteoles. Tepals unequal, lanceolate, acuminate, light green with scariose margins, turning brown at fruit ripening, outer tepals 4-6(-7) mm long, inner tepals 3.5-5(-6) mm long. Stamens 6, 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, 0.40.6 x 0.2-0.3 mm, smooth to slightly rugose, yellow-brown.
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Discussion
Juncus bufonius is morphologically variable, and in Europe and the Middle East it has been treated as a complex of closely related microspecies (Cope & Stace, 1978; Loenhoud & Sterk, 1976; Snogerup, 1971, 1980; Krechetovich & Goncharov, 1935; Mi-cieta, 1983; Micieta & Mucina, 1983). About 60 names of specific and subspecific rank have been applied to the complex. From the neotropical region only two names relating to the complex have been published. Juncus prolifer is based on a large specimen from Colombia, and J. bufonius var. pumilio is a depauperate specimen from N Argentina. After examining a large material from the neotropical region, I have not found any reason to divide it into either microspecies or varieties.
Distribution and Ecology: Juncus bufonius is a weedy cosmopolitan species most common in the north temperate region but also found in the cool highlands of all tropics, and it occurs in all major south temperate areas. Adamson (1935) suggested that it was introduced to South Africa, and Cheeseman (1925) considered it introduced to New Zealand during the western colonization of that country. In the neotropical region it is a weedy species, most often found in open and exposed soils along roads, ditches, etc. It shows the usual altitudinal pattern found in other species of Juncus, occurring at higher elevations near the equator and lower elevations farther away from the equator. Its altitudinal range is wider than that of most other Juncus species. It has been collected as high up as 4000 m and as low as 1000 m in Ecuador and at 350 m in Peru.
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Distribution
Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Distrito Federal Mexico North America| Hidalgo Mexico North America| México Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Querétaro Mexico North America| San Luis Potosí Mexico North America| Tlaxcala Mexico North America| Veracruz Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Quezaltenango Guatemala Central America| Chimaltenango Guatemala Central America| Costa Rica South America| Alajuela Costa Rica Central America| Cartago Costa Rica Central America| Limón Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Jamaica South America| Saint Andrew Jamaica South America| Guadeloupe South America| Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Norte de Santander Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Tolima Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Aragua Venezuela South America| Distrito Federal Venezuela South America| Mérida Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America| Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Cañar Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Imbabura Ecuador South America| Loja Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America| Zamora-Chinchipe Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Ancash Peru South America| Arequipa Peru South America| Cajamarca Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Huancavelica Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Junín Peru South America| La Libertad Peru South America| Lima Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Cochabamba Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America| Tarija Bolivia South America|