Scleria rosea Cherm.

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 208-209

23. Scleria rosea Cherm.

Scleria rosea Cherm. (1923) 298. — Scleria trialata var. rosea (Cherm.) Cherm. (1927 ‘1928’) 608. — Type: Viguier & Humbert 574 (lectotype designated here: P00457097; isolectotype B100166745), Madagascar, Andorovanto , Anivorano, 8 Oct. 1912.

Perennial, rhizome well lignified. Culm 0.8–1.5 m by 2–3.5 mm, triquetrous, scabridulous, reddish. Leaves 15–25 by 1–1.4 cm, glabrous but puberulous towards the mouth, pseudopraemorse; sheaths sometimes winged; margin and distal part of the veins scabrid, reddish; contraligule triangular, apex rounded, margin dark, ciliate. Inflorescence with terminal and lateral panicles subtended by leafy bracts; panicles pyramidal to spiciform ( Fig. 1a ); peduncles very short, almost entirely inside the sheath; laterals shorter than the internodes, solitary. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; rachilla reddish; prophyll purple, puberulous; glumes 2–3.5 mm long, shortly mucronate, straw-coloured to dark purple/reddish, margin ciliate. Nutlet ovoid, 2.5–3 by 1.5–2 mm, white, smooth; hypogynium heart-shaped, white, laciniate ( Fig. 2g –h ).

Distribution — Endemic to Madagascar.

Habitat & Ecology — In littoral to mid altitude evergreen forests, alt. 0–900 m.

Vernacular names — Malagasy: vendranala, lamiera.

Conservation — Scleria rosea is endemic to Madagascar and widespread in the Eastern evergreen forest. There are no specific threats known which affect this species. Therefore, it is here assessed as Least Concern.

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Antsiranana, Ambahatra , 800 m, 3 Mar.1999, L. Gautier et al. LG3457 (GENT,K, P01888410); Ambre Mount, 850 m, 29 Mar. 2012, S.D. Ramandimbomanana et al. SDR460 (GENT, K); Bekolosy, 850 m, 20 May 1995, L. Gautier & C. Chatelain LG2737 (K, P01888409); Daraina, 800 m, 3 Dec. 2004, L. Gautier & R. Claude LG4821 (GENT, K, P01708460); ibid., 400 m, 4 May 2010, C. Birkinshaw et al. 1769 (K, MO) ; Fianarantsoa, Ivohimonitra Forest, 1896, Forsyth Major 90 (K); Manombo , 20 m, 20 Sept. 2005, R. Razakamalala et al. 2175 (K, MO); R. Razakamalala et al. 776 ( MO, P01888402 ) ; Toamasina, Maroantsetra , 100–200 m, 1 Nov. 2001, O. Poncy 1549 (K, P00373065); Maroantsetra, 4 m, 5 Sept. 2009, H. Ralimanana RLI1285 (K); Mangerivola, 491 m, 23 July 2006, T. Ranarivelo et al. RTI282 (K) ; Toliara, Anosy, 0–10 m, 29 Apr. 1989, R.E. Gereau et al. 3434 (K, MO, P01888401 ); Manantanteli Forest , 60–300 m, 22 Sept. 1928, H. Humbert 5820 (K, P01888400) .

Note — Many Scleria specimens found in the Seychelles and the Mascarenes have been identified as S. sieberi Nees. However, the status of this taxon is uncertain since Nees (1834: 303) confusingly published two names on the same page with the same epithet, i.e., Scleria sieberi Nees (no specimen indicated) and Hypoporum (now accepted as Scleria ) sieberi Nees (based on Sieber Agrostotheca 97 which is a specimen of Scleria lithosperma ). Kunth (1837: 346) validated Scleria sieberi Kunth and indicated a specimen (Sieber Agrostotheca 141). Scleria sieberi sensu Clarke (as indicated on the herbarium specimens: J. Home 636, K000363347; J. Home 642, K000363348) is closely related to, and possibly the same species as, S. rosea bearing largely acuminate leaves, white to purple nutlets with a laciniate hypogynium, spikelets with conspicuous bracts and inflorescences with a reddish rachilla and straw-coloured glumes. If both taxa are merged, the name S. sieberi has priority over S. rosea . However, the relationship between these species needs further investigation including examination of additional collections from the Seychelles and Mauritius.

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.

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).