Rhynchospora blepharophora (C.Presl) H.Pfeiff.

  • Authority

    Thomas, William W. 1984. The systematics of Rhynchospora section Dichromena. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 37: 1-116.

  • Family

    Cyperaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Rhynchospora blepharophora (C.Presl) H.Pfeiff.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Cespitose perennial; culms erect to arching, 20-75 cm tall, 0.6-0.7 mm in diameter, obtusely triquetrous, green, glabrous; leaves mostly basal, 1-2 cauline, flat to involute, ciliate along margins, villous or sparsely so adaxially, especially along midrib; cauline leaf blades ca. 15-45 cm long, 0.7-2.5 mm wide; leaf sheaths 3-8 cm long, green, villulose or sparsely so; summit of inner band concave, hyaline, villose to villulose; inflorescence bracts green, 3-5, flat to involute, villose to villulose basally, villulose adaxially along midrib, ciliate along margins; basal bract longest, 5-17 cm long, 0.8-2.5 mm wide; inflorescence a congested obconical to hemispherical head of ca. 7-50 spikelets; spikelets ovoid, 3-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, consisting of 8-12 scales; scales white, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 1.4-2 mm wide, ovate, cymbiform; filaments ca. 3 mm long; anthers 1.3-1.8 mm long; stigma and style 1.9-2.4 mm long; stigma branches 1.3-1.8 mm long; achene (Fig. 8b) usually lenticular, bilaterally symmetrical, widely to very widely obovate, 0.80.9 mm long, 0.7-0.9 mm wide, stramineous; summit of achene shallowly arched; shoulders of achene at edge of style base ± confluent with achene margin; style base very shallowly triangular, 0.1-0.2 mm high, 0.6-0.7 mm broad, light to dark brown; achene surface lightly transversely rugulose; epidermal cells of achene narrowly elliptical, indistinct. Flowering and Fruiting: Mature specimens have been collected in January, July, and August and September. Distinguishing Features: This slender species can be distinguished by its pubescent, relatively narrow leaves, white spikelets, small achenes and short, triangular style base.

  • Discussion

    Type: Peru, Cuchero, Poeppig s.n. (PR, holotype; ill. of type in Rel. Haenk. 1: pl. 32, fig. 2). Dichromena ciliata Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 197. 1830, nom. illeg., non D. ciliata Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 240. 1806. Rhynchospora nervosa var. blepharophora (Presl) Kükenthal, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 75: 298. 1951. Dichromena pulchella Kunth, Enumeratio Plantarum 2: 277. 1837, nom. illeg. Dichromenapreslii A. Dietrich, Species Plantarum 2: 170. 1832, nom. illeg. Dichromena pittieri Standley, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 17(5): 427. 1914. Type: Colombia, Magdalena, between Q. de Bullo and El Platanal, on the trail from Río Frío to San Andrés de la Sierra, 1000 m, Jul 1906, Pittier 1692 (US, acc. no. 691286, holotype; NY, fragment). Rhynchospora pittieri (Standley) Pfeiffer, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 238. 1921, non R. pittieri Böckeler, Allg. Bot. Zeitschr. 2: 109. 1896. Rhynchospora standleyana Pfeiffer, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 37: 92. 1935. Rhynchospora nervosa var. standleyana (Pfeiffer) Kükenthal, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 75: 297. 1951. Discussion: Pittier 1692, the type of Standley’s Dichromena pittieri, differs from typical R. blepharophora in being shorter and leafier. Further collections may show it to be sufficiently distinct for recognition as a separate taxon.

  • Distribution

    Habitat: along trails and in clearings on wet, forested slopes at elevations of approximately 1000-1700 m.

    Venezuela South America| Colombia South America|