Scleria melanomphala Kunth

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 204-205

12. Scleria melanomphala Kunth

Scleria melanomphala Kunth (1837) 345. — Type: Drège 4379 (lectotype designated here:K000363499; isolectotypes P00465985,P00465986), South Africa, Eastern Cape, between the Bashee river and Morley , 300–600 m, Feb. 1840.

Scleria melanocephala Drège (1843) 147, nom. inval. based on: Drège 19 (HAL0063383), South Africa.

Scleria macrantha Boeckeler ,nom. illeg. (1879) 572. — Type: Schweinfurth 3746 (lectotype designated here: K000321074; isolectotype B†), Sudan.

Scleria melanomphala f. oculo-albo C.B. Clarke (1900b) 59. — Type: Gillet 321 (not located), Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisantu, 1899 .

Scleria longigluma Kük.(1921b) 22. — Type: Ule 8066 (lectotype designated here: B100296703, isolectotypes K000584481, K000584482, L0819883, NY00051758, NY00051795), Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Branco , Parime, auf Sumpfcampo bei der Serra de Paracaima, Nov. 1909.

Scleria centralis Cherm. (1931) 50. — Type: not located.

Scleria tisserantii Cherm. (1931) 50. — Type: Tisserant 2692 (lectotype designated here: P00466029; isolectotypes BR0000005572144, IFAN31813, P00466030, P00466031), Central African Republic, Région de Bambari , Yanguya, 50 km SE of Bambari, 21 Sept. 1928.

Perennial with well-developed rhizome, 4–6 mm thick; tufted, many leaves and stems with hairy margins and edges persist. Culm 0.5–1.3 m by 1–2 mm, edges pilose at the base. Leaves 25–35 by 0.3–0.5 cm, margin ciliate at the proximal part (1 mm); contraligule truncated, obtuse, slightly membranous on the margin, glabrous or ciliate. Inflorescence a truncated panicle ( Fig. 1d ), in terminal and lateral positions, sometimes more than one per node; bracts 2–3 cm long, shorter than the inflorescence, straw-coloured or purplish; peduncles 2–15 cm. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; glumes 0.8–1.2 cm long, mucronate, glabrous inside and hairy on the external side, purplish with a green brownish midrib. Nutlet 3–3.5 by 2–2.5 mm diam, ovoid to elliptic, smooth, apex dark; hypogynium with lobes barely marked, yellowish brown.

Distribution — Africa, South America and Madagascar, in open wet places ( Simpson & Inglis 2001).

Habitat & Ecology — In Central Madagascar, alt. 900– 1700 m.

Conservation — Scleria melanomphala is widely distributed in 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, Herbier du Jardin Botanique de Tananarive 331.9 (P01888503); ibid., Herbier du Jardin Botanique de Tananarive 331.10 (P01888505); Antananarivo, 16 Mar. 1930, R. Decary 7590 (P01784488, TAN); Ambotolampy , 14 Feb. 1930, J. Peltier & M. Peltier 1875 (P01888511); Antsirabe , Vontovorona , 2020–2050 m, 1 Apr. 1971, K.A. Lye 5945 (K); Manankazo , Ankazobe , 9 Jan. 1913, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 2692 (P01888513); Ankaratra , Lake Froid , 1650 m, 24 Apr. 2010, I. Larridon et al. 2010-0336B ( GENT); Mandraka Forest , Aug.1906, Herbier de Ch.d’Alleizette 1013 (P01888507); Mandraka Forest , 16 Aug. 1906, Herbier L. Rotereau s.n. (P01888510); Soamahamanina , 1200 m, 3 Feb. 2000, A. Raynal-Roques et al. 24936 ( MO, P01888500 , TAN); Central Madagascar , Betsileo, Jan. 1881, J.M. Hildebrandt 4015 (K, P01888508); Oct. 1882, R. Baron 2007 (K, P01888499); Fianarantsoa: 14 km au sud de Fianarantsoa, 22 Oct. 1970, M. Keraudren-Aymonin & G.G. Aymonin 25103 (P01888509); near Ambatofinandrahana (Betsileo), 1400–1500 m, 16 Jan. 1955, H. Humbert & R. Capuron 28118 (P01888498); West Itremo , 1500–1700 m, 17–22 Jan. –18–22 Apr. 1955, H. Humbert 300?2 (P01888502); ibid., H. Humbert 28168 (P01888504) .

Note — This species was identified in Middle Stone Age settlements in South Africa along with S. natalensis Boeckeler ex C.B.Clarke , used for bedding ( Wadley et al. 2011). Burkill (1985) recorded its use as treatment for disorders of the urinary system.

Figures

Fig. 1 Main types of inflorescences of Scleria from Madagascar. a. Inflorescence of S. rosea; b. inflorescence of S. trialata; c. inflorescence of S. angusta; d. truncated panicle of S. melanomphala; e. truncated panicle of S. greigiifolia; f. truncated panicle of S. foliosa; g. spicate-glomerulate inflorescence of S. distans; h. panicle of S. hilsenbergii; i. inflorescence of S. lithosperma (a: Ramandimbimanana & Randimbiarison 460; b: Lance 30; c: Mogg 288898; d: Brummit & Singe 232; e: Bosser 15031; f: Raynal 7664; g: Croat 29582; h: Rajaonary 45; i: Frontier-Tanzania Coastal Programme Research Forest 412; all K). — Scale bar: a = 7 cm, b–h = 5 cm, i = 4 cm.