Cyperaceae
Scleria

Scleria nyasensis C.B.Clarke

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 8: 504 (1902)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Uganda to S. Tropical Africa. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Type
Malawi, Zomba Mt, xii.1896, Whyte s.n. (K syntype); Zomba Dist., Mt Malosa, xii.1896, Whyte s.n. (K syntype); Blantyre, near Mt Sochi, Kirk s.n. (K syntype).
Morphology General Habit
Erect perennial herb, (0.45)0.8–1.5(2) m tall
Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes
Rhizome short, reddish brown, crowded stems with swollen bases to 5 mm wide, usually joined to form an irregular woody mass or clump up to 1 m across
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 20–30 cm long, 2–5(7) mm wide, glabrous or hairy but sharply scabrid on margin and veins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 25–50(100) cm long overall, lateral panicles rarely single, usually 3–5(6) at 2–5 nodes, on slender pendulous glabrous or hairy peduncles exserted to 20(30) cm from sheaths
sex Male
Male spikelets 5–7(8) mm long with pedicels to 11 mm long, usually shorter than spikelets; female spikelets 7–9 mm long, glumes straw-coloured to pale brown, sometimes with dark purple patches and green keels
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets ovoid-ellipsoid, obovoid or subglobose, 2.5–3.6 × 1.8–2.2 mm wide, distinctly regularly finely pitted with longitudinal rows of pits and ridges with white hairs, white or greyish to brown or reddish brown; hypogynium greyish white with 3 broadly triangular white or yellowish lobes usually extended into semiscarious, sometimes bicuspidate, tips adpressed to nutlet base.
Distribution
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in Burundi, D.R. Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.
Ecology
In perennially wet places, usually in shade, often at edges of mushitus; 1200–2200 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
[FZ]

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type
Types: Malawi, Zomba, Whyte s.n. (K!, syn.) & Mt Malosa, Whyte s.n. (K!, syn.) & near Mt Sochi, Kirk s.n. (K!, syn.)
Morphology General Habit
Erect perennial (0.45–)0.8–1.5(–2) m tall with short reddish brown rhizome and purple roots and crowded stems with swollen bases up to 5 mm wide, usually joined to form an irregular woody mass or clump up to a meter across
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 20–30 cm long, 2–5(–7) mm wide, glabrous or hairy but sharply scabrid on margin and veins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Lateral panicles rarely single, usually 3–5 (6) at 2–5 nodes, on slender pendulous glabrous or hairy peduncles exserted up to 20(–30) cm from the sheaths. Inflorescences 25–50(–100) cm long overall.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
ale spikelets 5–7(–8) mm long with pedicels usually shorter but sometimes up to 11 mm long; female spikelets 7–9 mm long with glumes straw-coloured to pale brown, sometimes with dark purple patches and green keels
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets white or greyish to brown or reddish brown, ovoid-ellipsoid, obovoid or subglobose, 2.5–3.6 mm long, 1.8–2.2 mm wide, distinctly regularly finely pitted with longitudinal rows of pits and the ridges with white hairs; hypogonium greyish white with 3 broadly triangular white or yellowish lobes usually extended into semiscarious sometimes bicuspidate apices adpressed to nutlet base.
Ecology
Permanent Phragmites and papyrus swamps, Syzygium swamp, sometimes in standing water; 70–1800 m
Note
" Stolz 1265 (Tanzania, Rungwe District, Mbaka, 13 May 1912) cited by Nelmes has the walls of the nutlet reticulation at least partly blackish.
Distribution
Flora districts: U2 U4 T1 T4 T6 T7 T8 Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe
[FTEA]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120180596/120180600

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/