Cyperaceae: Sclerieae [Draft]

Tribe 5. SCLERIEAE Dumortier, Anal. Famil. Pl. 64. 1829. [Draft]

珍珠茅族zhen zhu mao zu

Herbs, perennial or rarely annual, mostly stoloniferous. Leaves cauline, sometimes both cauline and basal. Inflorescences usually paniculate, rarely spicate or capitate; bracts usually leafy, bractlets setaceous or glumelike. Spikelets unisexual or bisexual, usually with ca. 10 glumes and fewer flowers; bisexual spikelets with 1 basal female flower and 1 to several distal male ones. Flowers without hypogynous bristles or scalelike perianth parts. Achenes stipitate, bony, usually borne on a hypogynous disk.

Two genera and 21 species (three endemic) in China.

1a. Inflorescences paniculate or spicate; achenes not included by glumes ........................................................ 34. Scleria

1b. Inflorescences cymose, congested into capitate; achenes included by 2 opposite glumes ................ 35. Diplacrum

34. SCLERIA Bergius, Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl. 26: 142. 1765.

珍珠茅属zhen zhu mao shu

Zhang Shuren (张树仁)

Herbs, perennial or annual, rhizomatous or not. Culms erect, trigonous or rarely terete. Leaves cauline or both cauline and basal; sheaths at middle part of culm winged or not; leaf blade linear, scabrid, sheathing, usually with prominently 3-veined. Inflorescences terminal, paniculate, usually stout and elongated, with leafy sheathing bracts, sometimes reduced into a discontinuous spike with glumelike bracts; bractlets usually setaceous, rarely glumelike. Unisexual spikelets usually dominant on inflorescence, rarely bisexual ones dominant; lowest 2--4 glumes of spikelets empty. Male spikelets with several flowers. Female spikelets with a single flower. Bisexual spikelets with a basal female flower and several male flowers. Flowers unisexual. Male flowers: stamens 1--3; anthers linear or linear-oblong; connective protruding and subulate. Female flowers: style base not inflated; stigmas 3. Achenes brick red, spherical or ovoid, often obtusely trigonous, smooth or variously sculptured, glabrous or hairy, mostly shiny, borne on a gynophore which is apically dilated into a ± 3-lobate disk.

About 200 species: pantropical and extending into temperate in S Africa, E Asia, North America, and South America; 19 species (three endemic) in China. NOTE: Scleria fujianensis G. P. Li, Fl. Fujian. 4: 689. 1995 and S. triculcata G. P. Li, Fl. Fujian. 4: 689. 1995 are missing from the manuscript.

1a. Bisexual spikelets dominant on inflorescence.

2a. Annuals, without a rhizome; glumes ovate; achene surface transversely rugose .............................. 1. S. pergracilis

2b. Perennials, with a woody creeping rhizome; glumes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate; achene surface smooth, nearly smooth, or slightly rugose.

3a. Spikelets 7--10 mm, pilose; disk stalklike ................................................................................................... 2. S. tonkinensis

3b. Spikelets 3--4.5 mm, glabrous; disk appressed to achene.

4a. Culms 30--60 cm tall, 1.4--2 mm thick; leaf blade 1.5--2 mm wide; lateral branches of inflorescence often spicate, single; achenes ca. 2.5 mm ..................................................................................................................................... 3. S. lithosperma

4b. Culms 60--200 cm tall, 3--7 mm thick; leaf blade 15--20 mm wide; lateral branches of inflorescence cymose, often binate; achenes ca. 3.5 mm ....................................................................................................................................... 4. S. corymbosa

1b. Bisexual spikelets fewer or absent on inflorescence.

5a. Plants normally small, rhizomes absent or not well developed.

6a. Disk not developed ................................................................................................................................... 5. S. nankingensis

6b. Disk developed and with obvious lobes.

7a. Lateral inflorescence branches downbent; bracts linear-lanceolate; achenes ca. 1.5 mm in diam.; disk lobes obtuse ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6. S. rugosa

7b. Lateral inflorescence branches erect or obliquely upright; bracts setaceous; achenes ca. 2 mm in diam.; disk lobes acute or acuminate.

8a. Leaf sheaths glabrous; disk lobes brown, ca. 1/2 length of achene, membranous, apex acuminate; achene apex with a blackish purple mucro ......................................................................................................................................... 7. S. biflora

8b. Leaf sheaths villous; disk lobes yellowish white, 1/4--1/3 length of achene, thick, apex acute; achene apex with a yellowish white mucro ...................................................................................................................................... 8. S. parvula

5b. Plants large and strong, with rhizomes.

9a. Culms cylindrical or slightly trigonous; leaf sheaths not winged.

10a. Achenes surface smooth, only apically slightly hispid; disk not cupuliform, appressed to base of achene, lobes triangular, margins reflexed; leaves alternate ........................................................................................... 18. S. harlandii

10b. Achenes surface hexagonous reticulate, pilose; disk cupuliform, ca. 1/2--4/5 height of achene, lobe apex dentate, margins not reflexed; leaves nearly 3 verticillate ................................................................................. 19. S. sumatrensis

9b. Culms trigonous; leaf sheaths winged at middle part of culm (not obviously in Scleria hookeriana).

11a. Achenes smooth.

12a. Inflorescence nearly spicate, branches short or without branch; spikelets with 3--5 awns exerting apex; achenes 4--4.5 mm; disk obscurely 3-lobed ...................................................................................................................... 15. S. psilorrhiza

12b. Inflorescence paniculate; spikelets without or with fewer fine awns; achenes 3--3.5 mm; disk obviously 3-lobed.

13a. Bractlets glumelike, shorter than spikelet; leaf blade thickly leathery, barely ligulate; stamen 1; achenes ca. 2.5 mm in diam.; disk lobes triangular ....................................................................................................................... 16. S. poaeformis

13b. Bractlets setaceous, longer than spikelet; leaf blade papery, obviously ligulate; stamens 3; achenes ca. 2 mm in diam.; apex of disk lobe nearly rounded .................................................................................................................... 17. S. radula

11b. Achenes ± reticulate and hairy.

14a. Glumes blackish purple; leaf sheaths obscurely winged; inflorescence without or rarely with a distant branch 9. S. hookeriana

14b. Glumes brown or reddish brown; leaf sheaths obviously winged; inflorescence with 1--3 distant branches.

15a. Ligules ligulate, 4--12 mm, glabrous ............................................................................................................... 10. S. ciliaris

15b. Ligules semicircular or nearly semicircular, usually not longer than 4 mm, barbate.

16a. Disk slightly 3-lobed or barely lobed; lobes flatly semicircular, short, rounded.

17a. Achenes with white reticulation .................................................................................................................. 11. S. terrestris

17b. Achenes with purplish brown reticulation .......................................................................................... 12. S. dulungensis

16b. Disk deeply 3-lobed; lobes lanceolate-triangular or ovate-triangular, longer, acute to nearly truncate.

18a. Achenes ca. 2 mm in diam., rugose ..................................................................................................................... 13. S. levis

18b. Achenes 2.5-2.8 mm in diam., reticulate ........................................................................................ 14. S. jiangchengensis

1. Scleria pergracilis (Nees) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 354. 1837.

纤秆珍珠茅 xian gan zhen zhu mao

Hypoporum pergracile Nees, Edinburgh New Philos. J. 17: 267. 1834.

Annuals. Without a rhizome. Culms tufted, erect, 11--30 cm tall, ca. 0.5 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous, sulcate. Leaves basal and cauline, sheathing; leaf blade capiliform, ca. 1 mm wide. Bracts light-colored, glumelike, ovate-lanceolate, shorter than spikelet cluster, membranous, midvein keeled, apex acuminate. Spike 2.5--8.5 cm, formed by clusters of 2 or 3 spikelets each separated by 2--17 mm. Spikelets mostly bisexual, ovoid, 3--4 mm, rarely lowest one unisexual with a single male flower; glumes ovate, membranous, with reddish brown lines, keeled, apex mucronate; 2 basalmost glumes empty; middle glume with a female flower; apicalmost 1 or 2 glumes with a male flower. Male flowers: stamens 3; connective protruding, forming a thin tip. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk obscure. Achenes white, nearly spherical, ca. 1 mm in diam., slightly trigonous, surface transversely rugose, base with a brown stalk, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. Aug--Oct.

Alpine grasslands, valley pastures; 1700--4000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Xizang, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa].

2. Scleria tonkinensis C. B. Clarke, Bull. Misc. Inform., Addit. Ser. 8: 57. 1908.

越南珍珠茅 yue nan zhen zhu mao

Scleria laevis Retzius var. scabberima Bentham; S. kwangtungensis Chun & F. C. How.

Perennials. Rhizome short, thick, woody, creeping, densely covered with scales; scale brown, tubular, with several parallel veins. Culms 16--70 cm tall, thinner, sharply trigonous, villous at apical part. Leaves basal and cauline. Basal leaves only with closed sheath, without leaf blade; sheath pale brown, trigonous, edges villous, surfaces pubescent, not winged, apex with 3 triangular teeth. Cauline leaves with a sheath like basal leaves but apex with a triangular membranous ligule; leaf blade linear, 1.2--1.5 mm wide but apically attenuate, both surfaces villous, margins scabrous, apex obtuse. Bracts leafy, sheathing; bractlets setaceous, both surfaces villous. Inflorescence paniculate, 2.5--6 cm. Spikelets lanceolate, 8--10 mm, villous, both of bisexual and unisexual spikelets numerous, with 14--16 glumes; glumes pale brown to yellowish green, basal 1 or 2 empty, 1 above empty ones with a female flower, others with male flowers. Male flowers: stamens 3. Female flower: style slender; stigmas 3, longer than style, slightly puberulous. Disk brown, not lobed. Achenes white, broadly obovoid to nearly spherical, 3--3.5 mm, obscurely trigonous, obscurely rugose to nearly smooth, shiny, base with a brown short stalk, apex rounded with a fine tip. Fl. and fr. Apr--Jul.

Guangdong, Hainan [Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam].

In FRPS this species was misidentified as Scleria radula.

3. Scleria lithosperma (Linnaeus) Swartz, Prodr. 18. 1878.

石果珍珠茅 shi guo zhen zhu mao

Scirpus lithospermus Linneaus, Sp. Pl. 1: 51. 1753.

Perennials. Rhizome short, thick, woody, creeping. Culms tufted, 30--50 cm tall, 1.4--2 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves sheathlike, bladeless. Cauline leaves with sheath trigonous, closed, pilose; leaf blade narrowly linear, 1.5--2 mm wide, margins finely serrate, apex attenuate into a cauda. Bracts leafy, sheathing. Inflorescence paniculate, well-developed ones more than 30 cm, with 1--3 lateral branches or without branch at lower part; lower part often reduced to spikelike, 3.5--7 cm. Spikelets 1--3 gathered in a cluster, 3--4.5 mm, with 4 or 5 glumes, with 1 or 2 male flowers and 1 female flower below male ones; glumes ovate-lanceolate, both sides of midvein membranous with short brown lines, keeled, apex mucronate. Disk not well-developed. Achenes white, broadly obovoid to nearly ellipsoid, ca. 2.5 mm, trigonous or not, smooth, shiny, base narrow and triangular. Fl. and fr. Jun--Oct.

Thickets in forests; 400--1000 m. Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan [pantropical].

4. Scleria corymbosa Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 574. 1832.

伞房珍珠茅 san fang zhen zhu mao

Scleria ridleyi C. B. Clarke.

Perennials. Rhizomes thick, nearly woody, covered with brown scales. Culms 0.6--2 m tall, 3--7 mm wide, sharply trigonous. Leaves on apical part of culms nearly whorled; sheath loosely embracing culm; ligule semicircular, with membranous margin ca. 1 mm; leaf blade linear, 50--80 X 1.4--20 cm, midvein and margins apically scabrid, apex acute. Bracts leafy, sheathing, glabrous. Inflorescence compound paniculate, ca. 40 cm; lateral inflorescence branches 5--7, cymose, often binate, ovoid, ca. 4 cm; inflorescence axes robust, trigonous, slightly hairy. Bractlets setaceous, 1--1.5 cm, base dilated, margin ciliate. Spikelets 3--4 mm, mostly bisexual, fewer male, 1--3 clustered. Glumes broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, leathery, keel green, lateral sides brown with rust-colored short lines, apex mucronate. Male flowers: stamens 3; anthers linear, ca. 2 mm; connective protruding. Disk reduced, appressed to achene. Fl. and fr. summer and autumn. Achenes white or grayish-white, obovoid to ellipsoid, ca. 3.5 X 2.5 mm, slightly trigonous, smooth, glabrous, base attenuate, apex apiculate.

Water margins, valleys, woods; elevation unknown. Hainan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand].

5. Scleria nankingensis T. Tang & F. T. Wang, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 11: 234. 1961.

南京珍珠茅 nan jing zhen zhu mao

Rhizomes short, nearly woody. Culms 30--50 cm tall, slender, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheath trigonous, not winged, glabrous; ligule semicircular; leaf blade narrowly linear, 2.5--3.5 mm wide, papery, slightly shiny, glabrous, apex acute, margins scabrous. Bracts leafy, sheathing; bractlets small and narrow, evaginate. Inflorescences paniculate; branches single or binate, 1--2 cm, distant. Spikelets lanceolate to ovoid-lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, loose, mostly unisexual, with 11 or 12 glumes, with ca. 9 unisexual flowers; glumes pale brown, ovate to ovate-lanceolate but apical ones lanceolate, membranous, apex acute, keel abaxially green keel. Bisexual spikelets with 1 or 2 basal glumes empty, middle ones with a female flower, apicalmost one empty or with a reduced flower. Male flowers: stamens 2(or 3). Female flowers: style slender; stigmas 2, almost as long as style. Disk not well-developed. Achenes white, nearly ovoid-spherical, 2--2.5 mm (excluding stalk), obscurely reticulate, base truncate, apex nearly rounded and without a tip. Fl. and fr. ± Oct.

Slopes; elevation unknown. Jiangsu (Lianyungang Shi, Nanjing Shi) [Vietnam].

6. Scleria rugosa R. Brown, Prod. Fl. Nov. Holland. 240. 1810.

垂序珍珠茅 chui xu zhen zhu mao

Scleria fenestrata Franchet & Savatier var. pubigera (Makino) Ohwi; S. onoei Makino; S. onoei var. pubigera (Makino) Ohwi; S. pubigera Makino.

Annuals, without rhizomes. Roots fibrous. Culms tufted, 10--25 cm tall, erect, trigonous, glabrous or villous. Leaves cauline; sheath barely winged, pubescent to villous; ligule semicircular, margin ciliate; leaf blade linear, 2--4 mm wide but apically attenuate, papery, both surfaces hairy, margins scabrous, apex obtuse. Bracts leafy, sheathing, opening of sheath with dense brown pubescence; bractlets small, evaginate. Inflorescence paniculate, with 3--5 branches; branches 0.7--1.5 cm, distant, with few spikelets; branch peduncles 0.4--4 cm, usually winged. Spikelets 1 or 2-clustered, lanceolate to ovoid-lanceolate, 2--4 mm, mostly unisexual; female spikelets with 3--5 glumes and 1 female flower. Female flower: ovary obovoid, smooth, glabrous. Disk 1/4--1/3 as long as achene, 3-lobed; lobes semicircular, margin reflexed, apex rounded. Achenes white or grayish white, spherical to nearly spherical, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., smooth, shiny, apex nearly rounded and slightly tipped.

Wet grassy places; 600--700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia, Pacific Islands].

7. Scleria biflora Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 573. 1832.

二花珍珠茅 er hua zhen zhu mao

Scleria ferruginea Ohwi.

Annuals, without rhizomes. Roots fibrous. Culms nearly tufted, 30--40 cm tall, slender, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheath tubular, trigonous, barely winged, glabrous, apex of basal ones with triangular teeth; ligule semicircular, pubescent; leaf blade linear, 2.5--5.5 mm wide but apically attenuate, papery, smooth, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex slightly obtuse. Bracts leafy, sheathing, opening of sheath with brown pubescence; bractlets setaceous, evaginate, much longer than spikelet. Inflorescence paniculate, with 2 or 3 branches; branches 1.5--2.5 cm, with many spikelets; lateral branches distant. Spikelets 1 or 2 clustered, lanceolate, 3.5--4 mm, mostly unisexual; female spikelets with 4 or 5 glumes and 1 female flower; male spikelets with 7--9 or more glumes; glumes ovate to lanceolate, apically attenuate, keel green to same-colored as glume, apex acute and apiculate. Male flowers: stamens 2 or 3. Female flowers: ovary obovoid, finely reticulate, densely pubescent. Disk ca. 1/2 as long as achene, 3-lobed; lobes ovoid-triangular, slightly shiny. Achenes white or yellowish, nearly spherical, ca. 2 mm in diam., reticulate, apex with a purple tip. Fl. and fr. Aug--Sep.

Grasslands, wasteland, beside fields; 600--1800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka].

In FRPS this species was misidentified as Scleria tessellata C. B. Clarke.

8. Scleria parvula Steudel, Syn. Pl. Glumac. 2: 174. 1855.

小型珍珠茅xiao xing zhen zhu mao

Scleria fenestrata Franchet & Savatier; S. tessellata C. B. Clarke (1903), not Willdenow (1805).

Annuals. Roots fibrous. Rhizomes short or not well-developed, thick. Culms tufted, 40--60 cm tall, slender, trigonous, smooth, glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheath of leaves at culm base glabrous, barely winged, bladeless or with a short blade; sheath of leaves at middle and upper part of culm narrowly winged, villous and more densely so near ligules; ligule semicircular, apex obtuse; leaf blade linear, 3.5--5.5 mm wide but apically attenuate, papery, both surfaces hairy or only on 2 lateral veins of abaxial surface, margins scabrous, apex slightly obtuse to acute. Bracts leafy, sheathing, opening of sheath with dense brown pubescence; bractlets setaceous, as long or slightly longer than spikelet. Inflorescence paniculate, with 2--4 branches; branches 1.2--3 cm, distant, with few spikelets. Spikelets lanceolate, 4--5 mm, mostly unisexual; female spikelets with 4 or 5 glumes and 1 female flower; male spikelets with 7--9 or more glumes; glumes deeply straw-colored to brownish purplish, ovate to lanceolate, keeled, apex acute and apiculate. Male flowers: stamens 2 or 3. Female flowers: ovary nearly spherical, glabrous. Disk yellowish white, 1/4--1/3 as long as achene, slightly 3-lobed; lobes ovoid-triangular to nearly rounded, margin reflexed, apex acute. Achenes nearly spherical to obovoid-spherical, 2.8--3 X 1.8--2 mm, reticulate, glabrous, apex with a yellowish white tip. Fl. and fr. Jul--Oct.

Slopes, valleys, wasteland, rice paddies; near sea level to 2700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangsu, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa].

In FRPS this species was misidentified as Scleria biflora.

9. Scleria hookeriana Boeckler, Linnaea 38: 498. 1874.

黑鳞珍珠茅hei lin zhen zhu mao

Stoloniferous rhizome short, woody, densely covered with purplish red oblong-ovate scales. Culms 60--100 cm tall, 2--4 mm wide, erect, trigonous, sometimes pubescent, slightly scabrous. Leaf sheath 1--10 cm, sometimes pubescent; sheath of leaves basal on culm purplish red to pale brown, obtusely trigonous, with 3 triangular teeth in various size at opening; sheath of leaves at middle part of culm green, sharply trigonous, rarely narrowly winged; ligule semicircular, with purple barbs; leaf blade linear, 4--35 cm X 4--8 mm, papery, glabrous or slightly pubescent, slightly scabrous. Inflorescence paniculate, 4--7 X 2--4 cm; bractlets setaceous, auriculate at base, barbate on auricle. Spikelets (1 or)2--4 closely clustered, ca. 3 mm, mostly unisexual, rarely bisexual. Male spikelets oblong-ovoid; glumes ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Female spikelets usually at basal part of inflorescence branch, lanceolate to narrowly ovoid, with few glumes; glumes broadly ovate, triangular, or ovate-lanceolate. Male flowers: stamens 3. Female flowers: ovary villous; stigmas 3. Disk yellowish, ± 3-lobed; lobes semicircular, margin reflexed, apex rounded. Achenes white, ovoid, ca. 2 mm in diam., reticulate, slightly rust-colored hispid, apex obtusely trigonous. Fl. and fr. May--Jul.

Sunny slopes, valley, scrub, grasslands; 400--2200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India].

10. Scleria ciliaris Nees in Wight, Contrib. Bot. India 117. 1834.

华珍珠茅hua zhen zhu mao

Scleria chinensis Kunth.

Perennials. Rhizomes woody, covered with purple to purplish brown scales. Culms tufted, 70--120 cm tall, ca. 5 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous, slightly scabrous. Leaf sheath 1--10 cm, papery, glabrous; sheath of leaves at culm base brown to purplish brown, not winged, with 3 ovoid-lanceolate teeth in various size at opening; sheath of leaves at middle part of culm green, wing 1--3 mm wide; ligule brown to yellowish brown, 4--12 mm, glabrous, margin sometimes apically purple; leaf blade linear, 15--35 cm X 6--9 mm, papery, glabrous, slightly scabrous. Inflorescence paniculate, with 1--3 slightly distant lateral branches; branches 6--10 X 2--6 cm, slightly condensed; bractlets setaceous, base auriculate, hispid on auricle. Spikelets brown to purple, (1 or)2--4 clustered, ca. 4 mm, mostly unisexual. Male spikelets oblong-ovoid; glumes 3--4 mm, membranous, margin sometimes ciliate; basal glumes keeled, apex aristate to apiculate. Female spikelets usually growing at base of branch, lanceolate; glumes broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, keeled, apex aristate to apiculate. Male flowers: stamens 3. Female flowers: ovary pubescent; stigmas 3. Disk yellow, 1.6--2 mm in diam., with dense rust-colored lines, 3-lobed; lobes nearly semicircular, margin reflexed, apex rounded. Achenes white, nearly spherical, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., slightly trigonous, reticulate, slightly hispid. Fl. and fr. Dec--Apr.

Valleys, forests, grasslands; 300--900 m. Guangdong, Hainan [Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Australia, Pacific Islands].

11. Scleria terrestris (Linnaeus) Fassett, Rhodora 26: 159. 1924.

高秆珍珠茅gao gan zhen zhu mao

Zizania terrestris L. Sp. Pl. 2: 991. 1753; Scleria elata Thwaites; S. elata var. latior C. B. Clarke; S. doederleiniana Boeckler.

Perennials. Rhizomes stoloniferous, woody, with dark purple scales. Culms sparse, 0.6--3 m tall, 4--7 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous, often scabrous. Leaf sheaths 1--8 cm, papery; sheath of 2 or 3 leaves at culm base purplish red, not winged; sheath of leaves at middle part of culm with 1--3 mm wide wings; ligule semicircular, short, usually barbate, barbs purple; leaf blade linear, 30--40 cm X 6--10 mm, papery, glabrous, slightly scabrous. Inflorescence paniculate, with 1--3 distant branches; branches 3--8 X 1.5--6 cm; bractlets setaceous, basally auriculate, auricle slightly hispid. Spikelet 1(or 2 clustered), entirely unisexual, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, apex truncate to acuminate. Male spikelets with glumes 2--3 mm, thickly membranous, basal ones keeled and with rust-colored short lines, apical ones pale-colored and scarious. Female spikelets usually growing at base of branch; glumes broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2--4 mm wide, sometimes with rust-colored short lines, keeled, apex apiculate. Male spikelets 3-flowered. Male flowers: anthers linear. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk yellow, ca. 1.8 mm in diam., slightly 3-lobed to barely lobed; lobes semicircular, flat, margin reflexed. Achenes white or pale brown, spherical to ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., sometimes ± trigonous, reticulate, slightly hispid, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. May--Oct.

Slopes, dry or moist places, valleys, stream margins, under shrubs, beside farms or roads; near sea level to 2000 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Laos, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia].

12. Scleria dulungensis P. C. Li, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 12: 12. 1990.

独龙珍珠茅 du long zhen zhu mao

Rhizomes not seen. Culms to 100 cm tall, 5--8 mm wide, trigonous, scabrous on ridges. Leaf sheath pale green, trigonous, glabrous, not winged; ligule oblong, barbate; leaf blade 15--20 cm, glabrous, veins and margin scabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, to 50 cm, with 9--11 lateral branches; branches 10--15 X 10-12 cm, patent and distant, with many spikelets; bracts leafy, with pale green sheaths; bractlets glumaceous, long-awned; spikelets single, unisexual, blackish purple; basal spikelets female, apex obovate; apical spikelets male, oblong, apex truncate; female glumes ovate-oblong, 3--3.5 mm, midrib green, apex acuminate. Disk ca 3 mm in diam., 3-lobed; lobes golden-yellow with purple lines, semicircular, margins reflexed. Achenes white, spherical, ca. 3 mm, puberulose, reticulation purplish brown, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. Aug.

Grasslands by evergreen broadleaved forests on slopes; 1300--1400 m. Yunnan (Gongshan Xian).

13. Scleria levis Retzius, Observ. Bot. 4: 13. 1786.

毛果珍珠茅mao guo zhen zhu mao

Scleria hebecarpa Nees; Scleria hebecarpa var. pubescens (Steudel) C. B. Clarke; S. levis var. pubescens (Steudel) C. Z. Zheng; Scleria pubescens Steudel.

Perennials. Rhizomes stoloniferous, woody, covered with purple scales. Culms loosely tufted or scattered, 70--90 cm tall, 3--5 mm wide, trigonous, pubescent, scabrous. Leaf sheath 1--8 cm, papery; sheath of leaves at culm base brown, not winged; sheath of leaves above middle part of culm green, with 1--3 mm wide wing; ligule nearly semicircular, short, barbate; leaf blade linear, ca. 30 X 0.7--1 cm. Inflorescence paniculate, with 1 or 2 lateral branches; branches 3--8 X 1.5--3 cm; bractlets setaceous, auriculate at base, auricle barbate. Spikelets 1 or 2, unisexual, brown, sessile, ca. 3 mm. Male spikelets narrowly ovoid to oblong-ovoid; glumes thickly membranous, 1.5--3 mm, keeled. Female spikelets usually at basal part of branch, lanceolate to narrowly ovoid-lanceolate; glumes oblong-ovate, broadly ovate, ovate-lanceolate, keeled, with rust-colored short lines. Male flowers: stamens 3 stamens; anthers linear, ca. 1.3 mm. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk pale yellow, slightly narrower than achene, deeply 3-lobed; lobes lanceolate-triangular, margin reflexed. Achenes white, spherical to ovoid, ca. 2 mm in diam., bluntly trigonous, rugose, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. Jun--Sep.

Dry places, grassland on slopes, thickets in forests, scrub; near sea level to 1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; NE Australia, Pacific Islands].

14. Scleria jiangchengensis Y. Y. Qian, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin. 19: 241. 1999.

江城珍珠茅 (jiang cheng zhen zhu mao)

Rhizomes stoloniferous, woody, covered with brown scales. Culms loosely tufted to scattered, 70-110 cm tall, 3--4 mm wide, trigonous, slightly puberulose. Sheath brown or greenish brown at middle part of culm, 1--6 cm, papery, puberulose, wings 1--3 mm wide; ligules nearly semicircular, puberulose, barbate; leaf blade linear, to 35 cm X 3--8 mm, both surfaces pubescent. Inflorescences paniculate, with 2--4 lateral branches; branches 2--7 X 1.5--5 cm, slightly distant; bracts leafy, sheathed; bractlets setaceous, puberulous, base auriculate; spikelets 1 or 2, greenish-purple to dark-purple, 3.5--4.5 mm, unisexual. Male spikelets narrowly ovate; basal glumes 1.5--3.3 mm, thickly membranous; apical glumes thinner and paler. Female spikelets usually at basal part of the branch, ovate-lanceolate, glumes 5; basal 2 glumes ovate, not keeled; apical 3 glumes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, keeled, apex awned. Male flowers: stamens 3. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk yellowish-white, slightly narrower than the achene, deeply 3-lobed, margins partly reflexed. Achenes white, spherical, 2.5-2.8 mm in diam., trigonous, reticulate, puberulous, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. Jul--Sep.

Forests; 1000-1100 m. Yunnan (Jiangcheng Xian).

No specimens of this species have been seen by the authors. The description was adapted from the protologue of the species.

15. Scleria psilorrhiza C. B. Clarke in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 4: 689. 1894.

细根茎珍珠茅xi gen jing zhen zhu mao

Perennials. Rhizomes ca. 3 mm in diam., covered with brown scales. Culms to 1 m tall, ca. 4 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous, scabrous. Leaf sheath 1--15 cm; sheath of several leaves at basal on culm brown, membranous to papery, not winged; sheath of other culm leaves yellowish green, papery, with 2--5 mm wide wing; ligule yellowish brown, glabrous or pilose; leaf blade linear, ca. 30 X 0.5--1.5 cm, papery, glabrous. Inflorescence paniculate, with 1 distant lateral branch; branch spicate; bractlets setaceous, base dilated; usually 2 or 3 spikelets clustered; spikelets rust-colored brown, sessile, ca. 3.5 mm, unisexual. Male spikelets ellipsoid to oblong; glumes 2--3 mm, thickly membranous. Female spikelets usually growing at base of branch, ellipsoid to ovoid-lanceolate; glumes broadly ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate, keeled, apex aristate. Male flowers: stamens 3; anthers linear, ca. 1.5 mm. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk pale brown, bluntly triangular, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., shallowly 3-lobed; lobes nearly semicircular, short, margin reflexed. Achenes white or pale brown, ovoid, ca. 3 mm in diam., smooth, shiny, glabrous, apex bluntly obscurely 3-tipped. Fl. and fr. Jul.

Sunny slopes; ca. 200 m. Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand; N Australia].

16. Scleria poaeformis Retzius, Observ. Bot. 4: 13. 1786.

稻形珍珠茅dao xing zhen zhu mao

Scleria oryzoides J. Presl & C. Presl.

Perennials. Culms to 1 m tall, robust, trigonous, glabrous, scabrous. Leaf sheath 7--25 cm, to 2 mm thick, leathery to somewhat fleshy, glabrous, sometimes 3-winged, basal ones purplish red; ligule not prominent; leaf blade linear, ca. 1 m X 1--2.5 cm, glabrous, margins sometimes scabrous, apex acute. Bracts glumaceous, lowest 1 or 2 with awns to 1 cm, others with shorter awns; bractlets glumaceous, shorter than spikelets. Inflorescence compound paniculate, ca. 15 X 7--8 cm, with many branches; branch axes long, angled, scabrous, with many spikelets. Spikelets 1 or 2, dark brown, unisexual. Male spikelets many more than female ones, oblong-ovoid, ca. 4 mm, apex truncate; glumes membranous, 2--3 mm, with rust-colored lines. Female spikelets usually at base of branch, lanceolate, slightly longer than male ones, apex acuminate; glumes triangular-ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or broadly ovate, slightly longer than male glumes. Male flowers: stamen 1; anther linear, ca. 1.7 mm; connective protruding part 1/5--1/4 as long as anthers. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk brown, triangular-cordate, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., 3-lobed; lobes triangular, short, margin reflexed, apex acute. Achenes white or gray, ovoid, ca. 3 X 2.5 mm, bluntly triangular, smooth, shiny, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Apr.

Water margins; elevation unknown. Hainan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; tropical Africa and Australia].

17. Scleria radula Hance, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 4, 18: 232. 1862.

光果珍珠茅guang guo zhen zhu mao

Scleria laeviformis T. Tang & F. T. Wang.

Perennials. Culms ca. 1 m tall, ca. 1 cm wide, trigonous. Leaf sheath loosely embracing culm, sometimes pubescent, winged on middle part of culm, wing 1--4 mm wide; ligule triangular, purple; leaf blade linear, 15--50 X 1.5--2.5 cm, papery, glabrous, slightly scabrous. Inflorescence paniculate; lateral branches 4 or 5, 6--5 X 5--10 cm, compact, with many spikelets; 2/3 of spikelets male; bractlets setaceous, pubescent. Male spikelets brown, oblong-ovoid; glumes membranous. Female spikelets usually basal, lanceolate to ovoid; glumes brown, thickly membranous, hispid, apex apiculate. Male flowers: stamens 3. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk yellow, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., 3-lobed; lobes semicircular, margins thick and reflected. Achenes white, ovoid, 2.5 X 2 mm, bluntly trigonous, smooth, glabrous, apex tipped. Fl. And fr. Apr--Aug.

* Valleys, stream sides, dense forests, wet places among hills; 100--700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan.

18. Scleria harlandii Hance, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 5, 5: 248. 1866.

圆秆珍珠茅yuan gan zhen zhu mao

Scleria purpurascens Bentham (1861), not Steudel (1855).

Plants. Culms to more than 1 m tall, ca. 6 mm wide, nearly cylindrical to sometimes slightly trigonous, glabrous, shiny. Leaf sheath yellow with purple lines, tightly embracing culm, 4--6 cm, thinly leathery, not winged, sometimes pilose, apical ones often overlapped; ligule purple, semicircular, margin ciliate, cilia ca. 1 mm; leaf blade linear, ca. 30 X 0.6--0.8 cm, thin leathery, glabrous, slightly scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence compound paniculate, to 40 cm, with 8 or 9 branches; branches ca. 5 cm, triangular, axes often pubescent. Bractlets setaceous, nearly equaling spikelets, hairy, base auricled. Spikelets 1 or 2, light rust-colored to purple, mostly unisexual, 3--4 mm. Male spikelets oblong-ovoid to lanceolate, apex truncate to acute; glumes 1.4--3 mm, membranous, with rust-colored lines. Female spikelets usually at base of branch, lanceolate, apex acuminate; glumes broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, ± keeled, margin apically ciliate, apex cuspidate. Male flowers: stamens 3; anthers linear, ca. 1 mm; connective protruding part 1/4--1/3 length of anthers. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk yellow with light rust-colored lines, ca. 2 mm in diam., 3-lobed; lobes triangular, margins reflexed, apex acute to acuminate or 2- or 3-lobed. Achenes white, nearly spherical, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., bluntly trigonous, smooth, shiny, only apical part sparsely hairy, apex tipped. Fl. and fr. Mar--Sep.

Slopes, valley, woodlands; elevation unknown. Guangdong, Hainan [Vietnam].

19. Scleria sumatrensis Retzius, Observ. Bot. 5: 19. 1789.

印尼珍珠茅yin ni zhen zhu mao

Perennials. Culms trigonous, ca. 6--7 mm in diam., glabrous. Leaves nearly whorled in 3s; sheaths ca. 4 cm, papery, glabrous, basal ones winged; ligule nearly semicircular, very short, margin ciliate; leaf blade linear ca. 40 X 1--1.3 cm, thick papery, slightly scabrous, apically attenuate. Inflorescence compound paniculate, with several branches; lateral branches often 2 or 3 clustered, 6--7 X ca. 10 cm, spreading, axes angled. Bractlets setaceous, laterally hairy, base dilated at base. Spikelets 1 or 2, brown, unisexual, ca. 5 mm, basal glumes distichous. Male spikelets oblong-ovoid, apex truncate; glumes rust-colored to brown, 2--3.5 mm, membranous, basal ones keeled and with a cuspidate apex. Female spikelets lanceolate, apex acuminate; glumes broadly ovoid-lanceolate, ovate, or oblong-ovate, keeled. Male flowers: stamens 3; anthers linear, ca. 1.2 mm; connective protruding part ca. 1/4 as long as anther. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Disk brown or purple, cupulate, 1/2--4/5 height of achene, 3-lobed; lobes smooth, shiny, apex dentate. Achenes flattened globose, ca. 1.5 X 2--2.5 mm, with hexagonal reticulation, sparsely pubescent, apex cuspidate. Fl. and fr. Apr.

Stream margins; elevation unknown. Hainan, Taiwan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; NE Australia, Pacific Islands].

35. DIPLACRUM R. Brown, Prod. F1. Nov. Holland. 240. 1810.

裂颖茅属 lie ying mao shu

Zhang Shuren (张树仁)

Herbs, annual or occasionally perennial, tenuous, with thin fibers. Leaves cauline, sheathing, without a ligule; leaf blade linear, short. Cymes capitate, condensed, exserted from leaf sheaths. Spikelets smaller, unisexual. Female spikelets apical on inflorescence; glumes 2, opposite, equal in size, veined, each with 1 female flower, apex 3-lobed or not. Male spikelets basal on inflorescence; glumes usually 3, usually thin and narrow, each with 1 or 2 male flowers. Male flowers: anthers 1--3. Female flowers: stigmas 3. Achenes small, globose, with vertical ribs or reticulate, sometimes hairy at top, borne on a disk.

About 6 species: tropics of both hemispheres; 2 species (none endemic) in China.

1a. Glume with female flower prominently several-veined, apex 3-lobed; achenes globose, with irregular rectangular reticulation ..................................................................................................................................................... 1. D. caricinum

1b. Glume with female flower with only a prominent midvein, apex not lobed; achenes depressed-globose, with irregular square reticulation ...................................................................................................................................... 2. D. reticulatum

1. Diplacrum caricinum R. Brown, Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland 241. 1810.

裂颖茅 lie ying mao

Scleria caricina (R. Brown) Bentham.

Annuals. Fibers purple, tenuous. Culms 10--40 cm, tenuous, ascending, trigonous, glabrous. Leaf sheath with narrow wings but apically broader; ligule absent; leaf blade linear, 1--4 cm X 1.5--3 mm, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a capitate cyme, 1 or 2 with at each node. Bractlets leafy or glumaceous; leafy bracts green, 3--10 mm, papery. Male spikelets with 3 glumes and 1 or 2 flowers; glumes scarious. Female spikelets oblong to ovoid, with 2 opposite glumes and 1 flower; glumes greenish yellow, nearly oblong, ca. 1.8 mm, membranous, prominently several-veined, 3-lobed, middle lobe larger, longer and, apically mucronate. Male flowers: anthers 1 or 2. Female flowers: stigmas 3, pubescent. Disk closely appressed to base of achene. Achenes included in 2 glumes, globose, 0.8--1 mm in diam., with 3 longitudinal ribs and rectangular reticulation, hispid near apex. Fl. and fr. Sep--Oct.

water margins, shaded slopes, beside farmland; elevation unknown. Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Hainan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia, Pacific Islands].

2. Diplacrum reticulatum Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 11: 295. 1947.

网果裂颖茅 wang guo lie ying mao

Scleria reticulata (Holttum) Kern.

Annuals. Very similar to S. caricinum in habit. Female spikelets turbinate, 1.2--1.5 X ca. 1.2 mm; glumes greenish yellow and often with pale red spots, ovate to oblong, ca. 1.2 mm, membranous, midvein prominent, lateral veins faint, apex entire (not 3-lobed) and mucronate. Achenes depressed globose, ca. 1 mm in diam., with 3 longitudinal ribs and square reticulation between ribs, apically hispid. Fl. and fr. autumn and winter.

Wet grasslands; elevation unknown. Hainan [Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand].