Eleocharis nigrescens
Content
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Philippines (Philippines present), Australasia: Queensland (Queensland present), Central Luzon present, Madagascar present, N. Australia present, Northern America, S. Australia present, Southern America, Southern United States present, Tropical Africa present
Southern United States to Mexico and Brazil, tropical Africa and Madagascar, Australia (N. Australia, Queensland, S. Australia); in Malesia: Philippines (Central Luzon, about 1900, LOHER 5193). Map in .
Notes
Originally the LOHER specimens in the Kew Herbarium were determined by CLARKE as E. microcarpa TORR.; the name E. schweinfurthiana BOECK. was given in synonymy. The N. American E. microcarpa, though closely related, seems to be clearly distinct by the non-costulate nuts. CLARKE'S remark (1907, l.c.) "No 5193 LOHER may be taken to be a depauperated state of the common Eleocharis afflata STEUD." [= E. congesta D. DON] is certainly wrong.
In 1932 SVENSON annotated the specimens as follows: "Identical with PERRIER DE LA BATHIE 17947 and 17282 from Madagascar. It is very close to E. nigrescens KUNTH, from which it differs in stouter growth and in having an achene which is smooth or at most with traces of black striolation. E. nigrescens has a clearly marked reticulation on the achene."
In SVENSON referred E. perrieri with a question mark to E. nigrescens (PERRIER DE LA BATHIE 17947), on p. 252 it is cited as a synonym of E. schweinfurthiana (same collector 17282) and LOHER'S specimens considered identical in outward aspect and in minute details of the nut with the type collection of E. schweinfurthiana. How- ever, in SCHWEINFURTH 1949 (type collection of E. schweinfurthiana) the bristles are about half as long as the nut, in LOHER 5193 they are absent. In SVEN- SON'S key (l.c. 214) absence of bristles leads to E. nigrescens. In the Australian plants bristles are also wanting (S. T. BLAKE, l.c.).
According to SVENSON E. schweinfurthiana stands between E. nigrescens and E. anceps RIDL., the latter characterized by the somewhat broader stems (½-1½ mm wide) and the slightly larger nuts (4/5 mm long), whereas E. helenae Busc. & MUSCHL. is intermediate between E. schweinfurthiana and E. anceps.
NELMES (in lift.) saw specimens of an Eleocharis from N. Rhodesia agreeing with E. schweinfurthiana in every way, except that they had no bristles in some flowers, but up to 3 short white bristles in other flowers. Therefore he took the Philippine collection for E. schweinfurthiana.
As I fail to see the distinguishing characters between all these 'species', I provisionally refer the Philippine plants to E. nigrescens, of which I have not seen the type.
In the above description the data between brackets refer to extra-Malesian specimens.
In 1932 SVENSON annotated the specimens as follows: "Identical with PERRIER DE LA BATHIE 17947 and 17282 from Madagascar. It is very close to E. nigrescens KUNTH, from which it differs in stouter growth and in having an achene which is smooth or at most with traces of black striolation. E. nigrescens has a clearly marked reticulation on the achene."
In SVENSON referred E. perrieri with a question mark to E. nigrescens (PERRIER DE LA BATHIE 17947), on p. 252 it is cited as a synonym of E. schweinfurthiana (same collector 17282) and LOHER'S specimens considered identical in outward aspect and in minute details of the nut with the type collection of E. schweinfurthiana. How- ever, in SCHWEINFURTH 1949 (type collection of E. schweinfurthiana) the bristles are about half as long as the nut, in LOHER 5193 they are absent. In SVEN- SON'S key (l.c. 214) absence of bristles leads to E. nigrescens. In the Australian plants bristles are also wanting (S. T. BLAKE, l.c.).
According to SVENSON E. schweinfurthiana stands between E. nigrescens and E. anceps RIDL., the latter characterized by the somewhat broader stems (½-1½ mm wide) and the slightly larger nuts (4/5 mm long), whereas E. helenae Busc. & MUSCHL. is intermediate between E. schweinfurthiana and E. anceps.
NELMES (in lift.) saw specimens of an Eleocharis from N. Rhodesia agreeing with E. schweinfurthiana in every way, except that they had no bristles in some flowers, but up to 3 short white bristles in other flowers. Therefore he took the Philippine collection for E. schweinfurthiana.
As I fail to see the distinguishing characters between all these 'species', I provisionally refer the Philippine plants to E. nigrescens, of which I have not seen the type.
In the above description the data between brackets refer to extra-Malesian specimens.
Citation
CHERM. 1937: p. 213. – In: Fl. Madag.: t. 19, f. 10-12
S. T. BLAKE 1939: p. 108. – In: Proc. R. Soc. Queensl.: t. 9 f. 1-4
SVENS. 1937 – In: Rhodora: t. 461, f. 14
NEES 1842 – In: Mart., Fl. Bras. 2: 97
SVENS. 1937: p. 223. – In: Rhodora: t. 462, f. 5-7
SVENS. 1937: p. 252. – In: Rhodora: t. 461, f. 13, saltern quoad specim. philipp.
Clarke 1909: Ill. Cyp.: f. 1-4