Scleria trialata Poir.

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

24. Scleria trialata Poir.

Scleria trialata Poir. (1806) 6. — Type: du Petit-Thouars s.n. (lectotype designated here: P00457082; isolectotype P00457083), Madagascar.

Scleria abortiva Nees ex Kunth (1837) 346. — Type: Goudot s.n. (lectotype designated here: P00457085), Madagascar. The other specimen at P (P00457084) is a remaining syntype (Herb. Maire instead of Herb.Goudot and therefore not part of the same collection).

Scleria abortiva var. planifolia Cherm. (1923) 299. — Type: Perrier de la Bâthie 2651 (lectotype designated here: P00457086), Madagascar, Nossibé , Lokobe, Aug. 1913.

Perennial. Culm 1.5–2 m by 3–6 mm, triangular, puberulous, soft, with appressed hairs scattered all over specially near the mouth. Leaves 25–35 by 1.4–2 cm, pseudopraemorse, arranged every 5–7 cm; hairs present, antrorse, along the margin and distal part of veins; blade sometimes rough, covered by a dense indumentum of stiff appressed antrorse hairs; leaf sheaths loose, rarely winged, covering the culm almost completely; contraligule triangular, apex rounded, puberulous, margin ciliate, internal veins curved outwards sometimes straight at the mouth. Inflorescence conspicuous, densely branched ( Fig. 1b ); terminal panicle 7–12 cm long; laterals longer than the internode, solitary; peduncles usually less than 3–5 cm, sometimes covered by the sheath. Spikelets unisexual or subandrogynous; rachilla straw-coloured; bracts <2 cm long, scabrid; prophyll straw-coloured, puberulent; glume bearing the male flower 3.5–4 mm long, female 3–3.5 mm, mucronate, margin entire or finely ciliate; external glumes mainly brownish, purple/red on the margins, internals completely purplish. Nutlet ovoid, 2.5–3 by 1.5–2 mm, smooth, white; hypogynium heart-shaped, yellowish brown, laciniate ( Fig. 2c–d ).

Distribution — Madagascar and the Comoros.

Habitat & Ecology — In Madagascar, it is restricted to the northern and eastern wet forests, alt. 0–1400 m.

Vernacular names — Malagasy: tsivendrambendrana, verrdradity.

Conservation — Scleria trialata is native to Madagascar and the Comoros. It is found in Andohahela, Masoala, Marojejy, Montagne d’Ambre and Ranomafana protected areas. This is a widespread species and there are no specific threats known which affect this species. Therefore, it is here assessed as Least Concern.

Additional specimens. MADAGASCAR, Antananarivo, 950 m, 13 Aug. 1968, J.H. McWhirter 120 (K); Ankazobe, 23 Dec. 1947, M.P. Saboreau 1185 (K); Oct. 1882, R. Baron 1424 (K, P01875262, P01875263); Antsiranana, Doany, 1250 m, 26 Oct. 2001, L. Gautier et al. LG3944 (GENT, K, P01708454); Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana Forest , 1200 m, 29 July 1987, P.Phillipson 2169 ( MO); Toamasina, Alaotra-Mangoro , 1085 m, 10 Feb. 2008, A. Rakotondrafara 533 ( MO, P01668985 , TAN); NW Masoala Peninsula, 550 m, 10 Oct. 1986, P.P. Lowry II et al. 4062 (K, MO); Antaralava Besalampy Forest , 958 m, 15 Nov. 2008, P.Antilahimena et al. 6906 (K, MO);Masoala Peninsula, 0–10 m, June 1993, M.L. Zjhra & J. Hutcheon 238 (K, MO); 470 m, 19 Sept.1993, K. Lance 30 (K); Moramanga, 900 m, 11 Nov. 1938, Lam & Meeuse 5375 (K); Perinet Reserve , 5 May 1988, D.A. Simpson 88 /112 (K); Vavatenina, 300–350 m, 12 July 2003, A. Rakotondrafara et al. 234 (K, MO); Toliara, Andohahela, 200–700 m, 4–24 May 1993, B. Randriamampionona 328 (K, P01875304); Massif de Bezavona , 28 Aug. 1919, R. Decary 10434 (K, MO, P01898905 ); Pic St Louis, 9 July 1932, R. Decary 9954 (K, MO) . – MAYOTTE, Grande- Terre, Mamoudzou, 1 July 2003, F. Barthelat 1204 (K); Reserve Forestiere de Majimbini , 18 June 2002, F. Barthelat 934 (K) . – RÉUNION, Sainte-Rose , 300 m, Mar. 1957, J. Bosser 11954 (K) .

Note — Scleria trialata differs from S. angusta in its larger panicles, generally longer than the internodes, dark glumes, and broader scabrid leaves. In Madagascar, it is used to treat toothaches ( Chermezon 1937).

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).