Scleria lithosperma

Goetghebeur, P. & Larridon, I., 2019, A revision of Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Madagascar, Blumea 64 (3), pp. 195-213 : 201

1. Scleria lithosperma (L.) Sw. var. lithosperma

Scleria lithosperma (L.) Sw.(1788) 18 var. lithosperma . — Scirpus lithospermus L. (1753) 51. — Schoenus lithospermus (L.) L. (1762) 65. — Carex lithosperma (L.) L. (1774) 706. — Hypoporum lithospermum (L.) Nees (1842) 117. — Scleria wightiana Steud. , nom.superfl.(1855) 176. — Lectotype designated by Camelbeke & Goetghebeur (2000): India, plate 48 in Rheede, Hort. Malab. 12 (1693).

Scleria margaritifera Gaertn. (1788) 13. — Type: Fruct. 1 (1788) 13, t. 12.

Scleria tenuis Retz.(1786) 13. — Carex tenuis (Retz.) J.F.Gmel.(1791) 138. — Type: Koenig s.n. (lectotype designated here: LD1277858), Sri Lanka.

Scleria filiformis Sw. (1788) 19. — Carex subulata J.F.Gmel. (1791) 138. — Scleria subulata (J.F.Gmel.) Steud. (1840) 296. — Scleria lithosperma var. filiformis (Sw.) Britton (1885) 231. — Type: Banks s.n. (lectotype designated here: K00058443), Hispaniola.

Scleria gracilis Rich. (1792) 113. — Type: Leblond s.n. (type P, not found), French Guiana.

Scleria purpurea Poir. (1806) 4. — Hypoporum purpurascens Nees (1834) 303, nom illeg. — Type: Collector unknown (type not located), U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas.

Scleria capillaris R.Br. (1810) 240. — Hypoporum capillare (R.Br.) Nees (1834) 303. — Type: R. Brown 6069 (lectotype designated by Bauters et al. 2019: K000960246; isotypes BM00090054, E00393211), Australia, North Australia,Arnhem South Bay, 1802.

Scleria elongata J.Presl & C. Presl (1828) 202. — Type: Haenke s.n. (lectotype designated here: PRC450377), Mexico, Acapulco .

Scleria glaucescens J.Presl & C. Presl (1828) 202. — Type: Haenke s.n.

(lectotype designated here: PRC 450376), Philippines. Hypoporum sieberi Nees (1834) 303, nom. inval. Scleria krugiana Boeckeler (1888) 35. — Type: Sintenis 4945 (lectotype designated by Bauters et al. 2019: LD1644490; isolectotypes BM000629124,

JE00005190, L0042770, S13-19138), Puerto Rico, Jabucoa. Scleria puzzolanea K.Schum. ( Engler 1894) 28, nom. inval. based on Holst

2797 (K), Tanzania, Tanga District, Amboni. Scleria lithosperma f. ramosa Domin (1915) 487, nom. nud. in synon.

Rhizomatous perennial, caespitose. Culm 60–80 cm, glabrous to puberulous. Leaves 10–35 cm by 1–4 mm, puberulent; sheaths finely pilose to glabrescent; contraligule triangular, densely ciliate. Inflorescence spiciform, terminal and lateral, unbranched, with 3–5 glomerules ( Fig. 1i ), laterals subtended by leafy bracts. Spikelets androgynous, 4–5.5 mm long, glumes glabrous. Nutlet 2 by 1.5 mm, ovoid to obovoid, smooth, trigonous, with three depressions at the base.

Distribution — Pantropical. It is a very widespread species which grows in maritime regions, but also present in semi-dry grasslands, croplands and disturbed areas ( Simpson & Inglis 2001, Naczi & Ford 2008). In West Polynesia, it is a weed ( Holm et al. 1979).

Habitat & Ecology — In Madagascar, present along the southeastern and northwest coast, in low altitude dry and semideciduous forest, rarely over alt. 600 m.

Conservation — Scleria lithosperma is pantropical, and there are no specific threats which affect this species. Therefore, it is here assessed as Least Concern.

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Antsiranana, Daraina, 81 m, 2 Mar. 2005, L. Nusbaumer & P.Ranirison LN1526 (G, K); Bassin de Biromba , 217 m, 28 May 2001, S. Wholhauser & H. Andriamalaza SW448 (G, K); Daraina, 204 m, 20 Mar.2004, L. Gautier et al. LG4654 (G, K); Daraina, 325 m, 5 Mar. 2003, L. Gautier et al. LG4230 (G, K) .

Note — Because of its leafy bracts and lateral panicles, it is included in its own sect. Lithospermae ( Clarke 1908, Chermezon 1937, Bauters et al. 2018). Previously, Haines & Lye (1983) placed this species in sect. Corymbosae Pax. The other variety, Scleria lithosperma var. linearis Benth. , is restricted to tropical Asia and Australia. It is used to treat skin infections and diseases in India ( Vijayan et al. 2007, Chendurpandy et al. 2010, Rani et al. 2011). In Tanzania, it is used in treatments for dysmenhorrhoea and to help during childbirth ( Burkill 1985).

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.