In 1997, while exploring the vegetation of Quebrada Bandurrias [Región II, Prov. Antofagasta , 25°13’S; 70°26’W], immediately north of Taltal (Fig. 1 & 2), a small population of Lobelia anceps L.f. (Campanulaceae) was discovered (Fig.3). This new northern record marks an extension of over 1000 km from the previous most northern record in Región V, Quintero [32°46'S 47°31'W] (Fig. 4 ).

Lobelia is represented in Chile by nine species (Marticorena 1990, Lammers 1999), most restricted to the central and southern regions. Lobelia anceps is a small, trailing perennial herb with blue flowers ( Fig. 3 ) and typically encountered in near-ocean, moist habitats at elevations between 10-350 (-550) meters. Until recently, Lobelia alata Labill. was commonly used for this taxon (Marticorena & Quezada, 1985), a misapplied by Wimmer (1953) and reduced to synonymy by Thulin (1983, 1984). Herbarium vouchers suggest that L. anceps is found from Regións V to X, it is most frequently encountered between Concepción and Valdivia [see Appendix I].

In Quebrada Bandurrias, Lobelia anceps was restricted to one moist area a few meters square. Individuals were found growing within dense clumps of Cyperus laevigatus and Juncus acutus. The population was generally restricted to the area within the area of dense vegetation in the photographs taken on 18 November 1997 (Fig. 1) and 16 October 2000 (Fig. 2). In the coastal region between Pan de Azúcar (26°15'S lat.) and El Cobre (~24°10'S lat.), there are perhaps 25-30 formations termed "aguadas" or places where undergound water from the interior Andes reaches the surface in quebradas facing the ocean. This is the situation in Quebrada Bandurrias, where mesic vegetation is confined to areas where the water reaches the surface. Associates growing in Quebrada Bandurrias includes the species listed in Table I derivered from database records (LOMAFLOR, unpublished data).

This new record is a considerable extension of range for Lobelia anceps in Chile; however, it should be no great surprise that this species was discovered outside of its native range in central Chile and the Juan Fernandez Islands (Fig.4). This species can best be described as circumaustral species with disjunct populations of
Lobelia anceps recorded from Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand (Chatham and Kermadec Islands) (Lammers, pers. comm.). The mode of disjunction which established the isolated population in Quebrada Bandurrias is currently unknown. It may have been established as a result of either a long-distance dispersal event (Muñoz & Flores, 1991) or a vicariant relict which reflects past climate changes along the northern coast of Chile (Dillon & Muñoz, 1993; Troncoso et al., 1980). The seeds are likely salt tolerant given the near-ocean distribution and halophytic associated vegetation.