357 
The genus Juncus (Juncaceae) in Malesia and 
allied septate-leaved species in adjoining 
regions 
K.L. Wilson and L.A.S. Johnsont 
Abstract 
K.L. Wilson ami Johnson L.A.S. (Royal Botanic Cardens, Mrs Macc\uaries Road, Sydney NSW 2000, 
Australia) 2001. The genus Juncus (Juncaceae) in Malesia and allied septate-leaved species in adjoining 
regions. Telopea 9(2): 357-397. The Malesian species of the genus juncus are reviewed. Juncus durus 
and J. decipiens subsp. medianus are described as new, and the new combination J. decipiens subsp. 
sundaicus is made. Distinctions between the Australasian /. pristnatocarpus and allied Malesian and 
continental Asian septate-leaved species are outlined. 
Introduction 
Backer (1951) published a treatment of the family Juncaceae in the Flora Malesiana 
series. He had published an account of the Javanese species in Dutch (Backer 1924) and 
subsequently an account for Java in English (Backer and Backhuizen f. 1968). Since 
then, there has been extensive collecting of and much research into the family in 
Malesia and neighbouring regions, particularly in Australia and New Zealand by 
E. Edgar and the late L.A.S. Johnson over the last 40 years. Tire first author (KLW) 
worked closely with LASJ on the study of the genus Juncus in Australia, New Zealand 
and New Guinea. The full Australasian study is still being prepared for publication, 
both as a separate paper and as part of the World Flora treatment of the family being 
coordinated by J. Kirschner (Pruhonice). It seemed useful to publish on the Malesian 
species separately from the Australian and New Zealand species since there are only 
eight species in Malesia and there is only one native species in common. Juncus 
pristnatocarpus R. Br. is also discussed because of the persistent confusion of that 
Australian and New Zealand species with its allies in Malesia and Asia. Only the most 
relevant of the references mentioned in Backer (1951) are repeated here. 
The subgeneric arrangement used is that of Kirschner et al. (1999). The subgroupings 
are largely the same as those used by Buchenau in Iris various publications (e.g. 1906), 
but with Buchenau's subgenera grouped as sections under two subgenera, which are 
based on his major informal subdivision of 'eprophyllati' and 'prophyllati. These two 
informal subdivisions were based on the presence or absence of bracteoles 
(confusingly called prophylls by Buchenau — see Novara 1976 and discussion below) 
under each flower. Buchenau's subgeneric names are added in parentheses, so that 
those names can be correlated with the currently accepted names. Subgenus Juncus 
(Buchenau's 'Flores eprophyllati') is represented in Malesia by Juncus leschenaultii 
J. Gay ex Laharpe, J. sandwithii Lourteig and J. luallichianus Laharpe, which belong to 
sect. Ozophyllum (Buchenau's subgen. Septati). Subgenus PoiopJtylli (Buchenau's 'Flores 
prophyllati') is represented by the introduced J. bufonius L. sens. lat. in sect. Tenageia 
(subgen. Poiophylli p.p.) and a mixture of native (J. decipiens (Buchenau) Nakai, J. durus 
sp. nov. and J. tnipela Veldkamp) and introduced (J. inflexus L.) species belonging to 
sect. Juncotypus (subgen. Genuini). 
t Deceased 1 August 1997. 
