Two New Species of Scleria Section Scleria (Cyperaceae) from the Neotropics

Abstract

Two new species are described: Scleria skutchii M. T. Strong & J. R. Grant, a scrambling, vinelike, branching, high-climbing sedge with sharp, spinulose leaf margins, pendulous inflorescences of purple spikelets, a long-stipitate hypogynium, and achenes with a curved apex, from Costa Rica and northwestern Colombia, related to S. macbrideana Gross; and Scleria triquetra M. T. Strong, an erect to ascending sedge that has trigonous achenes bearing tubercles with tufts of trichomes on the angles, from northeastern South America, related to S. huberi C. B. Clarke. A key to the scandent species of Scleria sect. Scleria in Central America and northwestern Colombia is provided, and an illustration, SEM photograph of the mature achene, and comparison to similar taxa are given for each species. Earl Core's (1936) monumental treatment of the American species of Scleria Bergius and his (1965) treatment of the Guayana Highlands species laid a solid foundation for further study of species occurring in the Neotropics. Examination of specimens has led to the discovery of two new species in Scleria sect. Scleria. The genus is typified by Scleria fiagellum-nigrorum Bergius. Section Euscleria of Core (1936), the nominate section of the genus which contains S. flagellum-nigrorum, is not permitted by the International Code ofBotanical Nomenclature, Article 21.3 (Greuter et al., 1988). Species of Scleria sect. Scleria are distinguished from other species in the genus by having a 3-lobed hypogynium with entire lobes. Scleria skutchii M. T. Strong & J. R. Grant, sp. nov. TYPE: Costa Rica. Puntarenas: Canton Golfito, Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Golfito, Golfito, along road (7 km long) from the soccer field to the microwave transmitter tower, 8?38'N, 83?1 1'W, 25 Dec. 1992, Grant & Rundell 92-02087 (holotype, US sheet #3242501; isotypes, BM, CLEMS, CR, F, GH, K, MARY, MO, NY, P, VDB). Figures 1, 3B. NOVON 4: 296-302. 1994. Species haec a Scleria macbrideana Gross differt foliorum pagina abaxiali pilosa; inflorescentiis (2-)5-10 paniculatis, pendulis, flexuosis; prophyllis basi longo-ciliatis in ramis lateralibus; spicularum pedicellis ad 1 cm longis; acheniis ovatis, apice anguste rotundo et leviter curvirostrato, pilis brevibus dispersis vel in lineis indistinctis. Coarse perennial, with thick, nodose rhizome; vinelike, climbing or scrambling high over vegetation; roots coarse, thick. Culms trigonous, elongate, branching from upper nodes, to 10 m long, 3-5 mm wide, to 10 mm wide near base, scabrous to spinulose on angles, finely ribbed above, coarsely ribbed and channeled near base, glabrous to sparsely pilose. Leaves many; blades green, to 6 dm long, 4-14 mm wide, apex long-acuminate, abaxial side pilose, adaxial side glabrous except at base, a few hairs sometimes along the midvein, harshly spinulose along margins and midvein beneath, the barbs up to 0.5 mm long; sheaths green, closely overlapping in young foliage, finely veined, pilose to glabrescent at maturity, scabrous to spinulose on the angles, the convex contraligule firm, pubescent to glabrescent at recurved apex with hairs to 1 mm long. Inflorescence of (2-)5-10 axillary panicles from the upper sheaths; panicles borne on long, slender peduncles becoming pendulous at maturity; panicle branches smooth, or scabrous only near base, ascending, elongate, minutely scabrous on angles; bractlets linear-lanceolate to setaceous, scabrous, long-ciliate on margins at expanded base. Spikelets unisexual; pistillate spikelets elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 5-7 mm long, 3 mm wide, on slender, trigonous to subcompressed pedicels up to 1 cm long; staminate spikelets oblong-ovate, 3-4 mm long, 12 mm wide, usually on shorter pedicels than the pistillate, but sometimes up to 1 cm long. Pistillate scales 6-9 (including the reduced fertile scale); lower sterile scales ovate, 2-2.5 mm long, 1.5-2.0 mm wide; upper sterile scales widely ovate, 3.0-3.5 mm long, 3.5-4.5 mm wide, green with purple margins, at maturity becoming darker, usually tinged with purple, glabrous, ciliate along margins near base, the apex short-mucronate, scabrous, recurved at This content downloaded from 207.46.13.113 on Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:06:01 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Volume 4, Number 3 1994 Strong Scleria Section Scleria