Scleria boivinii Steud.

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 205

13. Scleria boivinii Steud.

Scleria boivinii Steud.(1855) 173. — Type: Boivin 1643 (lectotype P 04021507; isolectotype K), Madagascar, Toamasina, Sainte Marie, Lafondrou Forest (Tafondro), 1849.

Scleria barteri Boeckeler (1874) 504. — Type: Barter 1786 (lectotype designated here: K000363314; isolectotypes S-G-9586, TCD0000355), Nigeria, Onitsha .

Perennial climber, tufted at the base. Culm 2–10 m by 1.5–2 mm thick, triquetrous, bulbous at the base. Leaves 30–35 cm by 2–3 mm, glabrous except main vein villose; hairs present in margins and central costa of the leaf, antrorse along the distal part, the rest retrorse; sheaths puberulent on the abaxial side; contraligule large, obtuse, membranous at the margin, ciliate at the base. Inflorescence with conspicuous leafy bracts; terminal and lateral panicles pyramidal, erect, 6 –10 cm long, grouped at the top of the culm. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; spikelet bract 1–1.5 times longer than the spikelet; glumes bearing the male flower 3–4.5 mm, female 4.5–6 mm, brown, glabrous, midrib scabrid and purplish, rest straw-coloured; staminal crest well developed, up to 1 mm. Nutlet 2.5–3.5 by 1.5–2.5 mm, trigonous, minutely hairy, white; hypogynium cream-coloured, rotund, margin revolute, brown.

Distribution — Tropical Africa, Madagascar and the Comoros. This species is recorded as invasive in Ghana ( Holm et al. 1979).

Habitat & Ecology — In Madagascar, it is very common and forms dense populations on edges and in canopy gaps of wet forest, alt. 0–2000 m.

Vernacular names — Malagasy: vondranditi, sambi havitra, filelatra, diti.

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

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Antsiranana, Reserve Spéciale Monongarivo, Bekolosy, 22 May 1995, L. Gautier & C. Chatelain LG2766 (K, MO, P01888433 ); ibid., 7–12 Dec. 1992, S. Malcomber et al. 1975 (K, MO, P01888419 ); Betsitsika Forest , 149 m, 12 Jan. 2009, M.Y. Ammann et al. MYA247 (K); SAVA, 940 m, 15 Jan. 2004, L. Nusbaumer 993 (G) ; Fianarantsoa, 12 km E of Ifanadiana, 600 m, 18 Dec. 1997, P. Wilkin et al. 946 (GENT,K, P01888423, TAN); Ambilandrano, 450 m, 9 Jan.1993, H. Beentje 4802 (K, TAN); Soanierana , 100 m, 30 Nov. 1938, Lam & Meeuse 5556 (K, P01888425) ; Toamasina, 10 km south of Foulpointe, 12 Dec.1984, L.J. Dorr & L.C. Barnett 3394 (K, MO, P01888432 ); Sainte Marie, Lafondrou Forest (Tafondro) 1849, M. Boivin 1643 (K, P04021507); Valleé de la Fanjahirana, 19 Sept. 1932, M.R. Decary 10647 (K, P01888420) ; Toliara, Fort-Dauphin, Ivohibe Forest, 386 m, Nov.2005, R. Razakamalala et al.2476 (K, MO); near Fort-Dauphin , Manantantely Forest , 60–300 m, 22 Nov. 1928, H. Humbert 5780 (K, P01888422) .

Note — According to morphological and molecular data ( Bauters et al. 2016), it is closely related to Scleria secans . This has led to many misidentifications. However, S. boivinii is an African taxon, whereas S. secans only occurs in South America. Scleria boivinii is locally used in many ways. Nutlets are used as beads in necklaces in Ghana ( Abbiw 1990). In Tropical Africa, macerates and decoctions of leaves and stems are used to ease childbirth ( Lebbie & Guries 1995), treat coughs, blennorrhoea, toothache, snakes bites ( Burkill 1985), headaches ( Betti 2004, Idu et al. 2014) and onchocerciasis ( Abondo et al. 1990).