Scleria

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 211

3. Scleria aff. sect. Abortivae

Herb, underground parts not collected. Culm 2.5 m by 0.5–0.8 mm. Leaves 30–35 by 2.5–3.5 cm, praemorse, glabrous; central vein of the abaxial side pilose; contraligule triangular, edge ciliate and red; leaf sheath winged. Inflorescence 30 cm long, formed by lateral and terminal panicles 8–15 cm in length, laterals being longer than the internodes; inflorescence bracts leafy, longer than the inflorescence. Spikelets with rachilla greenish, puberulous; spikelet bracts greenish, up to 1 cm, ciliate along the margin; flowers mostly male; glumes 4–5 mm, both external and internal completely purple, puberulous. Nutlet tuberculate, scabrid, purple, 4–5 by 2.2–3 mm, ovoid, apiculate; hypogynium, trilobate, yellowish, ciliate on the apex of the lobes.

Specimen. MADAGASCAR, 1600 m, 9 Nov. 1999, P.J. Rakotomalaza &

D. Ravelomanantsoa 2128 (K, MO).

Note — This taxon belongs to sect. Abortivae but has rugose nutlets with a marked mucro. The hypogynium is also quite different from those found in other species of this section. However, the inflorescence resembles the inflorescence of S. trialata . Along with S. madagascariensis , S. trialata , and this specimen are these only taxa having winged leaf sheaths in this section.