Scleria madagascariensis Boeckeler

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 208

22. Scleria madagascariensis Boeckeler

Scleria madagascariensis Boeckeler (1884) 514. — Type: Hildebrandt 3745 (lectotype designated here: K00363342; isolectotypes P00457089, P00457090), Madagascar, Antananarivo, Ost-Imerina, Andrangoloaka , Nov. 1880.

Perennial with conspicuous rhizome. Culm 1.5–2 m by 2.5–3.5 mm, triquetrous, scabridulous, edges red. Leaves 20–30 by 1.2–1.4 cm, pseudopraemorse, arranged every 10 cm along the culm; leaf sheaths glabrous or puberulous, winged; hairs present all along the margin and wings, retrorse, reddish, antrorse along the veins, only in the apical part, scarce; contraligule triangular, rounded, margin red, membranous. Inflorescence red, with leafy bracts; internodes red; panicles pyramidal, one terminal plus 3–4 laterals, 8–13 cm long, each lateral as long as the internode, the basal pedunculate. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; bracts conspicuous, 2–6 cm long; prophyll purple, puberulous; glumes 3–4 mm long, slightly mucronate, reddish, finely ciliate along the margin and hairy at the base. Nutlet 3–3.5 by 2–2.5 mm, ovate, smooth, white, apex purplish; hypogynium trilobed, dentate, white with red dots ( Fig. 2a–b ).

Distribution — Endemic to Madagascar. Only known from four localities.

Habitat & Ecology — Evergreen forest, alt. 1200–1400 m.

Conservation — Scleria madagascariensis is endemic and is found only in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. It is known from two locations. The estimated of EOO (170 km 2) and AOO (12 km 2) do not exceed the value of the Endangered category. This species and its habitat are threatened by fire, illegal logging, deforestation for charcoal production and marketing and shifting agriculture ( Ravoniarijaona 2010). Therefore, it is assessed as Endangered under the criterion B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v).

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Antananarivo, Anjozorabe Forest , 1400 m, 3 Sept. 1991, A. Rokotozafy et al. 2741 (K, MO); Ost-Imerina, Andrangoloaka, Nov. 1880, J.M. Hildebrandt 3745 (K000363342); Central, Oct. 1881, R. Baron 452 (K) .

Note — There are many misidentifications between S. madagascariensis and S. rosea . However, S. madagascariensis is a very rare species that always shows winged sheaths, reddish glumes, spikelets with long bracts and a dentate hypogynium.

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).