Scleria pulchella Ridl.

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: low confidence

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

Type

Type: Angola, Huilla, Empalanca, Welwitsch 7141 (LISU, hol., BM!, K!, iso.)

Morphology General

Lemon-scented almost entirely glabrous annual 5–24 cm tall

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–2 mm wide, glabrous or very sparsely hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences simple, 1–4 cm long, or with some lower branches up to 1.5 cm long, with erect or spreading glomerules of 1–8 spikelets each 2–4 mm long, dark red, the upper glomerules crowded and ± touching, the lower up to 1 cm apart.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes blackish red or green sometimes with reddish streaks, the midrib green in female, ± 2 mm long, shortly awned

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets grey brownish or blackish, globose, ± 1 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, faintly transversely ridged or pitted.

Ecology

Seasonally damp places and shallow soils on rocks, swampy places and seepage zones; 1200–2200 m

Note

The typical form has an unbranched or very shortly branched inflorescence and dark blackish red glumes. S. suaveolens was described as having a clearly branched inflorescence and pale green glumes slightly tinged with red but intermediates occur in Zambia.

Distribution

Range: Congo-Kinshasa (Shaba), Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe Flora districts: T4 T7

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

Angola, Huíla, Empalanca, xii.1859, Welwitsch 7141 (LISU holotype, BM, K).

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, 5–25 cm tall, almost entirely glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–2 mm wide, glabrous or very sparsely hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence simple, 1–3(–4) cm long, some lower branches to 1.5 cm long, with erect or spreading glomerules of 1–8 dark red 2–4 mm long spikelets, upper glomerules crowded and ± touching, lower up to 1 cm apart

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes blackish red or green sometimes with reddish streaks, midrib green in female, c. 2 mm long, shortly awned

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets globose, c. 1 × 0.8 mm wide, faintly to strongly transversely ridged or pitted, grey, brownish or blackish, sometimes with 3 longitudinal dark stripes.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Also in Tanzania, D.R. Congo (Katanga) and Angola.

Ecology

In wet bogs and dambos, shallow soil over granite or sandstone; 1450–2300 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.

Note

The species is strongly lemon-scented in the field, but the smell disappears on drying, according to Richards 847.