Scleria lagoensis Boeckeler

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 206-207

17. Scleria lagoensis Boeckeler

Scleria lagoensis Boeckeler (1869) 151. — Type: Warming 494 (lectotype designated here: C10010663), Brazil, Lagoa Santa , 2 Mar. 1864.

Scleria moritziana Boeckeler (1874) 460. — Type: Moritz 645b (lectotype designated here: BM000598740), Venezuela, Caripe, 1865. The other specimen at BM (BM000598720) is a remaining syntype,because although it is also indicated as Moritz 645b, it was collected in Colombia .

Scleria canaliculatotriquetra Boeckeler (1879) 573. — Scleria lagoensis subsp. canaliculatotriquetra (Boeckeler) Lye (1983) 243. — Type: Schweinfurth 2474 (lectotype designated here: K000321072; isolectotype B†, P00465981, S-G-9585), Sudan, Djur, Seriba Ghattas, 12 Oct. 1869.

Scleria diurensis Boeckeler (1879) 573. — Type: Schweinfurth 2389 (lectotypedesignatedhere:K000321073;isolectotypeB†,P00465982,P00465983), Sudan, Lande der Djur, grosse Seriba-Ghattas, 17 Sept. 1869.

Scleria cervina Ridl.(1884a) 171. — Type: Welwitsch 7127 (lectotype designated here: BM000798943; isolectotypes LISU222806, LISU222807), Angola, Pungo Andongo , Mar. 1857.

Scleria mayottensis C.B. Clarke (1908) 92. — Type: Boivin 3043 (isotype P00196802), Mayotte.

Scleria vanderystii De Wild. (1926) 25. — Type: Vanderyst 3471 (lectotype designated here: BR0000008638601; isolectotype BR0000008638595), Democratic Republic Congo, Feb. 1914.

Scleria canaliculatotriquetra var. clarkeana Piérart (1953) 49. — Type: Mullenders 159 (lectotype designated here: BR0000008638625; isolectotype YBI196456948), Democratic Republic of Congo, 10 Mar. 1947.

Perennial. Culm 0.8–1 m by 1–2 mm thick, distinctly triquetrous. Leaves 40–60 by 0.4–1 cm, glabrous but hairs present on the distal part; sheaths markedly winged; contraligule rounded, membranous, veins well marked, glabrous, with red dots. Inflorescence consisting of terminal and lateral truncated panicles, 6–8 cm long. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; glumes straw-coloured. Nutlets 2.5–3.5 by 1.8–2.2 mm, subtly pitted, hairy underneath, ovoid; hypogynium with three slender lobes, sometimes red at the tip.

Distribution — Tropical and southern Africa, South America and Madagascar.

Habitat & Ecology — Widespread in Madagascar, occurring in evergreen and dry forests, in northern and in central Madagascar, from low altitude to 1300 m. Tolerant to dry soils.

Vernacular name — Malagasy: zamana.

Conservation — Scleria lagoensis is widely distributed in Tropical and southern Africa, South America and Madagascar, and there are no specific threats which affect this species. Therefore, it is here assessed as Least Concern.

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Jan. 1899, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 883 (K, P01888566); Antananarivo , Mar. 1960, J.M. Bosser 13620 ( TAN); ibid ., 18 Mar. 1951, H. Humbert & R. Capuron 25622 ( MO); Andraisoro , 11 Mar.1919, R. Decary s.n. (P01888559); Antsiranana, Bemarivo , Boina , Feb. 1907, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 2408 (P01888555); Nosy Be, Boivin 1990; Mahajanga, Tsaramandroso , 12 Mar. 1965, Jacqueline & Maurice Peltier 5209 (P01888552); Toliara, Analavelona Forest , 950–1250 m , Mar. 1934, H. Humbert 14233 (MNHN-P1888560).

Note — Vegetative parts of African and American specimens are practically identical. However, nutlets of plants from Brazil (where the type comes from) are frequently hairy all over and more globose than its African relatives. They could be different species or subspecies, as previously noted by Robinson (1966). Nevertheless, further research is required .