Juncus duthiei (C.B.Clarke) Noltie, Edinburgh J. Bot. 51: 134 (1994) (syn: Schoenus duthiei (C.B.Clarke) Kük. ; Alpinojuncus duthiei (C.B.Clarke) Záv.Drábk. & Proćków ; Microschoenus duthiei C.B.Clarke );
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W. & Central Himalaya: Nepal, West Himalaya as per POWO;
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Hemakund – Ghangaria trail … about 13500 ft
Habitat: sloping meadow
Habit: small herb, about 30 cm high; flower about 5 – 7 mm across (not sure)
… this was the only plant. Not sure whether the flower has already lost its prime.
Looks like the petals have fallen off. The red one must be the lobed stigma. No idea about identity.
There are two flowers. One partially open and one full open. As … has suggested the petals have fallen or there are only tepals.
Yes, now I see.
Juncus gerardi Loisel., a new sps. for India ??
I glanced through some sites on the internet; the habitat of Juncus gerardii is coastal wetlands, marsh and pastures.
If the D is correct, you should go for a publication.
This could be Juncus compressus which is found in Western Himalaya. See the attached drawing. The structure of the flower agrees – there are only tepals, as … had suggested. Anthers are longer than the filaments, and there are 3 reddish stigmas.
Also Juncus compressus is often confused with Juncus gerardi.
At least it got ID after 13 years
Happy that it got the correct ID.
After … put this one on iNaturalist, Jacques@iNat suggested that it agrees better with Juncus duthiei which is endemic to the Himalayas. The part where Dinesh’s flower did not agree well with Juncus compressus was that the tepals are supposed to be blunt in Juncus compressus whereas they are pointed in Dinesh’s flowers. Since the species is very variable, I assumed it as variation. In Juncus duthiei the tepals are reddish-brown to blackish, sometimes with paler tips and greenish midribs, narrowly lanceshaped, the inner narrower than the outer and with narrow membranous margins, all gradually tapered to pointed tip. This is an excellent agreement with Dinesh’s flowers.
Yes, … suggestion Juncus gerardi made me explore closely related species of the Himalayas. The plant is also a wonderful find! Is this the longest pending identification to get resolved in eFI?
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References:
POWO Annotated checklist of Flowering plants of Nepal India Flora Online Flowers of India Plant Net