Cyperaceae
Scleria

Scleria patula E.A.Rob.

First published in Kirkia 2: 186 (1961)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Zambia. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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
Zambia, Chingola Dist., 11 km N of Chingola, 4.v.1960, Robinson 3696 (K holotype, B, EA, GC, M, MPR, MRSC, MTJB, NU, NY, PRE, SRGH, YBI).
Morphology General Habit
Annual herb; stems 3–25 cm long, spreading
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–2 mm wide, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Lateral panicles single at nodes, on erect peduncles little exserted from sheaths
sex Male
Male spikelets c. 2 mm long, straw-coloured or pale reddish, on pedicels 1.5–3 mm long; female glumes glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets 1.8–2 × 1.2–1.4 mm broad, ovoid or subglobose, lacunose-tessellate, hairy or glabrous, grey with darker longitudinal stripes; hypogynium 3-lobed, pale greenish or yellowish; lobes rounded at apex, often edged with a ± scarious margin which may be 1- to 3-apiculate.
Distribution
Zambia. Not known elsewhere.
Ecology
In seasonally damp places; 1350–1450 m.
Conservation
Local distribution, only known from these two records; possibly Near Threatened.
Recognition
Of small stature. The nutlets are apiculate, with clearly square or rectangular cavities.
[FZ]

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

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