A note on the hairy achenes of four African species of Scleria Bergius (Cyperaceae)

Abstract

Surface features of hirsute achenes of four African species of Scleria have been examined by SEM. All bear unicellular, terete hairs with swollen bases. As the achenes mature and dry, the hairs collapse, except for their partly silicified bases, which appear as pit-like depressions from which the now-flattened hairs emerge. If the achene surface is not smooth the hairs are localized on the interlacunar ridges. In addition to the hairs, three of the four species examined show minute papillate protuberances from the silicified outer tangential walls of the epidermal cells. These papillae form a further ornamentation to the achenes visible only at high magnification. The fourth species entirely lacks these papillae.