Family:
Cyperaceae Juss.
Genus:
Tetraria P.Beauv.

Tetraria usambarensis K.Schum.

This species is accepted, and its native range is DR Congo, Tanzania (Usambara Mountains).

[FTEA]

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

Type
Type: Tanzania, Usambara Mountains, Holst 131 (B†, holo)
Morphology General Habit
Slender perennial, up to 60 cm tall; rounded base enclosed in black fibres, the remains of old leaf bases.
Morphology Culms
Culms tufted, rounded-trigonous, 10–50 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, with longitudinal ridges, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves basal and up the stem. Leaf sheaths blackened, 3.5–5 cm long; basal leaves shorter than culm; cauline leaves linear, involute, flexuous above, 27–33 cm long, 1.2–2 mm wide, some exceeding the culm, rigid, apex often blackened, acuminate, scabrid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a simple panicle, 5–15 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 1–5 per cluster, ovoid, 5–10 mm long, 1.5–3.5 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 8–11 per spikelet, distichously arranged, brown, lower 7–9 empty, ovateelliptic, 4.5–5 mm long, 2.5–3.5 mm wide, awned, upper 2 subtending bisexual flowers, ovate, 5.5–7 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, keel 1-veined ending in the acuminate to awned apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth bristles 3–6, minute, scabrid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments
Filaments 5–6 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers 4–4.5 mm long, with conspicuous flat elongate connectives far exceeding the anthers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style long, flexuous, base pyramidal, hispidulous, persistent, branches 3, densely hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet brown, ovoid-ellipsoid to obovoid, 3–4 mm long, 1.5–1.8 mm wide, with 3 strong pale-coloured ribs, on a stalk ± 1 mm long
Ecology
Dry sandy places; 1750 m
Distribution
Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: T3

Native to:

Tanzania

Tetraria usambarensis K.Schum. appears in other Kew resources:

First published in H.G.A.Engler, Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas, C: 128 (1895)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. & Simpson, D.A. (2007). World Checklist of Cyperaceae. Sedges: 1-765. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Govaerts, R. (2004). World Checklist of Monocotyledons Database in ACCESS: 1-54382. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H. (2010). Cyperaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-466.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H. (2010). Cyperaceae. Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-466.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • P.O.A. C: 128 (1895)
  • Sedges & Rushes E. Afr.: 320 (1983).

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    © Copyright 2022 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 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0