Scleria lithosperma

(Linnaeus) Swartz

Prodr., 18. 1788.

Illustrated
Basionym: Scirpus lithospermus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 51. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 246. Mentioned on page 243.

Plants perennial; rhizomes short, nodulose, aromatic when fresh. Culms in tufts, slender, 30–90(–115) cm, glabrous or slightly scabrous. Leaves: sheaths purplish, wingless, weakly ribbed, finely pilose or nearly glabrous; contra-ligules reddish, triangular, rigid, distinctly ciliate; blades distinctly grayish green and revolute when dry, linear, attenuate, keeled, 1–3(–5) mm wide, shorter than culms. Inflorescences: axillary 1–3, terminal 1, quite lax; stalked spikes or panicles 2–4, terminal one 3–4.5(–8.5) cm with 2–7 open fascicles 2–6(–9) mm wide, of 1–4 spikelets; bracts subtending and overtopping inflorescence leaflike, broadly attenuate, scabrous. Spikelets bisexual (an occasional terminal staminate spikelet), few flowered, 3–5 mm; staminate scales lanceolate, pistillate scales ovate-acuminate, with prominent green keel. Achenes whitish or gray between angles, obscurely trigonous, ovoid or globose, 2–2.5(–3) mm, smooth, base broadly attenuate, somewhat depressed between angles, trigonous, not porose, apex umbonate; hypogynium obsolete, reduced to distinct brown band at base of achene.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–fall.
Habitat: Dry thickets, open woods, hammocks, restricted to limestone soils
Elevation: 0 m

Distribution

V23 439-distribution-map.jpg

Fla., La., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, tropical Asia, Africa.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Scleria lithosperma"
A. A. Reznicek +, John E. Fairey III +  and Alan T. Whittemore +
(Linnaeus) Swartz +
Scirpus lithospermus +
Fla. +, La. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, tropical Asia +  and Africa. +
Dry thickets, open woods, hammocks, restricted to limestone soils +
Fruiting spring–fall. +
Illustrated +
Scleria lithosperma +
species +