Scleria porphyrocarpa E.A.Rob.

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, Kasama Dist., Mungwi, 21.xii.1961, Robinson 4742 (K holotype, B, EA, GC, M, MRSC, MTJB, NU, NY, PRE, SRGH).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, either erect or scrambling over trees and bushes

Morphology Stem

Stems 5–6 mm thick at base, to 5 m long, smooth, triquetrous; retrorse-scabrid on angles above

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome robust, 3–4 mm thick, with short internodes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–24 mm wide, sheaths covering greater part of stems, shortly and sparely hairy, margins markedly scabrid, lower leaves reduced to sheaths or with a short lamina; lower sheaths smooth or scabrid, reddish, upper ones scabrid on angles and shortly hairy; mouth of sheath produced into a short rounded tongue 1.5–4 mm long with a brown-pilose margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence up to 90 cm long; panicles sometimes corymbose, often broadly pyramidal, lower branches spreading or reflexed, 1.5–4 × 2–6.5 cm; peduncles compressed, 1–1.7 mm wide, scabrid or hairy, almost erect, exserted 2–16 cm from sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets androgynous and male; in androgynous ones, male flower often reduced to empty glumes; male spikelets 6–7 mm long; glumes of androgynous spikelets 4–5 mm long, ovate, acuminate, glabrous or minutely hispidulous on median nerve towards apex, keel green, sides purple or brown-purple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets ovoid, 4.8–6 × 2.7–3.7 mm, smooth, glabrous, shiny, purple, paler or white where covered by glumes, obscurely trigonous, markedly and acutely beaked, beak gradually narrowing from nutlet; stipe distinctly trigonous but not entirely differentiated from nutlet.

Distribution

Zambia. Also in D.R. Congo.

Ecology

In relict evergreen swamp forest (mushitu) on permanently damp soil; 1300–1500 m.

Conservation

Found in a somewhat threatened habitat; possibly Near Threatened.

Note

According to Robinson (1966), “In this association Scleria porphyrocarpa often forms a dense tangle of erect or trailing rough-edged stems which make progress almost impossible and generally bloody.” The teeth on the angles are minute and hard to see but clearly large enough to cut the skin.