Scleria tessellata sphaerocarpa E.A.Rob.

Global description

Scleria tesselata var. sphaerocarpa develops in single or multiple upright individuals with leaves all along the stem. The leaves have a well-developed lamina carinated below. Inflorescences are erect terminal and lateral spikes consisting of unisexual spikelets with spiraling glumes. The fruit is a globose white achene surmounted by a short point and carried by a short trilobed column. The tegument is riddled with alveoli.

First leaves

The first leaves are arranged tristically along an erect solitary axis. The limb section is broad V, the central vein is strongly careened below. The sheath is triangular and closed, very elongated along the stem.

General habit

Scleria tesselata var. sphaerocarpa is an erect sedge or in a tuft of axes erected according to whether the plant develops in a solitary axis or in several axes emanating from the same base. The stems are leafy throughout their length. This species can measure 40 to 60 cm in height.

Underground system

The roots are fasciculate. They are simple, threadlike and very numerous.

Stem

The stem is solid and of triangular section, with acute angles and deeply concave faces. It is glabrous and finely striated longitudinally.

Leaf

The leaves are linear with an acuminate apex. The lamina is are erect, 15 to 50 cm long and 3 to 8 mm wide. The sheath is closed and very elongated for the leaves of the base. The lamina has a wide V section and a strongly keeled central vein at the lower face. The margin of the blade and the keel of the midrib are strongly ciliated, especially towards the base.

Spikelet

The flowers are unisexual, grouped in spikelets themselves unisexual. The spikelets are assembled in more or less loose, terminal and lateral spikes. They are erect and provided with linear leafy bracts 2 to 4 cm long and very long acuminate. The dorsal vein is finely scabrous. The glumes are spirally arranged along the rachis of the spikelet. They are 5 mm long, lanceolate in shape and have a short mucro at the top. The ovary is globular, carried by a small column dilated at the top into a trilobed disc.

Fruit

The fruits are achenes released from the glumes and clearly visible at maturity. They are globular, at the top with a short point. They are 2.7 to 3.5 mm in diameter and are glabrous, ivory-white in color. The tegument is riddled with small square sockets aligned longitudinally.

https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/2712746