Cyperaceae
Scleria

Scleria catophylla C.B.Clarke

First published in T.A.Durand & H.Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 670 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type
Type: Angola, Huilla, Welwitsch 7143 (LISU, lecto.; BM, K!, iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb 0.2–1.2 m tall with glabrous or hairy stems slightly swollen at base and producing up to 4 slender ± fleshy stolons 1–2(–3) mm thick.
Morphology Roots
Roots pale brown or reddish
Morphology Leaves
Leaves mostly produced at or near base of stem, 10–25 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, glabrous to densely hairy; ligule a dense rim of short hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences spicate, 6–18 cm long, with many reflexed glomerules or 2–7 dark 4–6 mm long bisexual spikelets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reddish brown to blackish, 3–5 mm long, the outer ending in a long awn densely covered with almost black hairs; hairs below the awn often white or reddish brown
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet white, obovoid, (1.2–)1.5–1.7 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, smooth, with a minute cupule
Figures
Fig. 58: 1-4, p382
Ecology
Seasonally wet grassland, bogs; (30–)1050–1200 m
Note
Napper’s argument that S. aterrima is the correct name is fallacious and I am grateful to Dr. R.K. Brummitt for confirming this. Also her claim that the species occurs in America I have been unable to confirm.
Distribution
Range: Senegal to S Nigeria, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa Flora districts: U3 U4 T6 T8
[FTEA]

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Type
Nigeria, Barter 1561 (K holotype).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb 0.2–1.2 m tall; glabrous or hairy stems slightly swollen at base, producing up to 4 slender ± fleshy stolons 1–2(3) mm thick
Morphology Leaves
Leaves mostly produced at or near base of stem, 10–25 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, glabrous to densely hairy; ligule a dense rim of short hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence simply spicate, 6–18 cm long, with many reflexed glomerules of 2–7 dark, 4–6 mm long bisexual spikelets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 3–5 mm long, reddish brown to blackish, the outer ending in a long awn densely covered with almost black hairs; hairs below awn black, often white or reddish brown
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet obovoid, (1.2)1.5–1.7 × 1–1.2 mm wide, smooth, white, grey or grey-brown, stipe minute.
Distribution
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi. Senegal to Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).
Ecology
In dambos, bogs and marshes, usually on sandy or peaty ground; 950–1700 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
[FZ]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120180227/120180231

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Cyperaceae, Miss S. S. Hooper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit
Tufted rhizomatous perennial up to 1 m. high
Morphology Leaves
Densely villous leaves crowded at the base of the stem
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Spike 3–13 cm. long with 4–15 glomerules
Ecology
In seasonally swampy places.
[FWTA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0