Scleria perpusilla Cherm.

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 203

8. Scleria perpusilla Cherm.

Scleria perpusilla Cherm. (1929) 557. — Type: Perrier de la Bâthie 18433 (lectotype designated by Bauters et al. 2019: P00346040; isolectotypes BR0000013180607,P00346041,US), Madagascar, Antananarivo, Analabé au nord de Tananarive, 1500 m, Feb. 1928.

Annual. Culms 3–8 cm by 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous. Leaves 1.5– 2.5 cm by 0.75 mm, glabrous. Inflorescence a reduced, terminal spike with 1–3 glomerules, each with 1–6 spikelets. Spikelets androgynous; glumes 3.5–4.5 cm, dark purple, glabrous. Nutlet 1.2 by 1 mm, ellipsoid, white, ornamentation transversely wrinkled to reticulated ( Fig. 2f ).

Distribution — Endemic to Madagascar.

Habitat & Ecology — Endemic to Central Madagascar. On rocky soils, alt. 1200–1500 m.

Conservation — Scleria perpusilla is endemic and only occurs in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. It is known from three locations and found in the Andringitra Protected Area. This species and its habitat are threatened by grazing and pasture fire (F. Rakotonasolo, pers. comm. 2017). Therefore and in com- bination with its restricted distribution (AOO = 12 km 2, EOO = 9 769 km 2), this species is assessed as Endangered under the criteria B2ab(i,ii,iii).

Additionalspecimens. MADAGASCAR, Antananarivo, 1500m, Feb.1928, H. Perrier de la Bâthie 18433 (BR, P00346040, P00346041); Ankazobe, Mar. 1930, R. Decary 7695 (K, P01888491); ibid., Mar. 1962, J. Bosser 15968 (P01888490) .

Note — This species may be undercollected because of its small habit. It was collected for the last time in 1962.

Figures

Fig. 2 Nutlets of Scleria species occurring in Madagascar. a–b. S. madagascariensis; c–d. S. trialata; e. S. baronii; f. S. perpusilla; g–h. S. rosea; i–j. S. hilsenbergii; k–l. S. rutenbergiana; m–n. S. angusta; o. S. andringitrensis (a–b: Rakotozafy 2741; c–d: Lance 30; e. Hoffman 221; f. Decary 7695; g–h: Ranarivelo 282; i–j. Rajaonary 45; k–l: Wilkin 941; m–n: Boivin s.n.; o: Perrier de la Bâthie 14385; all K).