Rhynchospora rubra
Content
Description
Perennial (always?), with short rhizome;
Leaves basal and 1-2 cauline at the base of the stem, much shorter than to as long as the stems, rather rigid, keeled, gradually attenuate, scaberulous on the margins near the apex, 2-3(-5) mm wide.
Inflorescence capitate, globose, dense, 1-1½ cm across.
Stamens (2-)3;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: India present, Japan present, Oceania present, S. China present, SE. Asia present, tropical Australia present
Widely distributed from SE. Asia (India to S. China and Japan) to tropical Australia and Oceania, common throughout Malesia.
Notes
The shape of the nut and the length of the hypogynous bristles are very variable in Malesian specimens. The bristles are sometimes hardly discernable, sometimes (e.g. in ELBERT 3092, L, from SE. Celebes) slightly longer than the nut or even exceeding the style-base; not rarely they are shortly white-plumose at the base. To me it is therefore doubtful whether R. parva (NEES) , from Africa, is really specifically distinct.
Stems and leaves are usually glabrous. Specimens with the stems setulose-pilose at the apex and the margins and midrib of the leaves densely ciliate may be distinguished as var. hirticeps KÜK. Such specimens have been collected in Luzon, SE. Celebes, and Papua.
In a peculiar monstruous form the spikelets are proliferous, with numerous exactly 2-ranked glumes above the normal ones, the whole giving the impression of a Cyperus-spikelet (see Machaerina disticha).
Stems and leaves are usually glabrous. Specimens with the stems setulose-pilose at the apex and the margins and midrib of the leaves densely ciliate may be distinguished as var. hirticeps KÜK. Such specimens have been collected in Luzon, SE. Celebes, and Papua.
In a peculiar monstruous form the spikelets are proliferous, with numerous exactly 2-ranked glumes above the normal ones, the whole giving the impression of a Cyperus-spikelet (see Machaerina disticha).
Citation
KÜK. 1924 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 6, 52
Koord. 1911 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 201
KÜK. 1949 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 491
Clarke 1893 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 668
Benth. 1878 – In: Fl. Austr.: 349
LOUR. 1793: Fl. Cochinch., ed. Willd: 52
PFEIFF. 1928 – In: Mitt. Inst. Allg. Bot. Hamb.: 173
KUNTH 1907 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 101
CAMUS 1912 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 145
Clarke 1909: Ill. Cyp.: f. 1-7
STAPF & TURR. 1914 – In: Gibbs, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 42: 181
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 119
NEES 1834 – In: Wight, Contr.: 115
VALCK. SUR. 1912 – In: Nova Guinea: 706
MAKINO 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 130
BOECK. 1872 – In: Linnaea: 542
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 336
MOR. 1846: Syst. Verz.: 98
KERN 1968 – In: Back. & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 3: 483
Ridl. 1925 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 164
F.-VILL. 1882: Nov. App.: 309
MAKINO 1921: En. Born.: 63
OHWI 1942 – In: Bot. Mag. Tokyo: 204
Ridl. 1907 – In: Mat. Fl. Mal. Pen. (Monoc.): 82
S. T. BLAKE 1948 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 100
K. SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 198
ZOLL. 1854 – In: Syst. Verz.: 61
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 335
UITTIEN 1949 – In: Back., Bekn. Fl. Java, (em. ed.), 10: fam. 246, p. 5