PLANTAE / PHANEROGAMAE / ANTHOPHYTA / POALES / CYPERACEAE / CYPEROIDEAE / RHYNCHOSPOREAE / RHYNCHOSPORA / GRACILLIMA / SUBQUADRATA
A slender leafy annual or possibly perennial with numerous stems crowded on a short rhizome; old dead stems frequently persistent. Stems 5-40 cm long (including the inflorescence) and0.8-1.2 mm thick (below the first inflorescence-branch), but only 0.3-0.5 mm thick high up, rounded or angular; the base with a few short scales. Leaf-blades 5-25 cm long (or the lower leaf-sheaths with very short blades) and 0.5-1.0 mm wide, flat or enrolled; upper surface with large rectangular surface cells at least in lower part; margin (at least near the apex in young leaves) densely set with short spine-like teeth; sheath leaf-like on one side, very thin and translucent on the side opposite the leaf; ligule a minute, sometimes distinct ridge. Inflorescence with flowering branches spread out along most of the stem, those near the apex maturing first. Bracts subtending main branches leafy, the lowest to 20 cm long. Each inflorescence-branch about 2-8 cm long with usually only 1-5(rarely to 10) pedunculate spikelets, the terminal spikelet of each branch the lowest, overtopped by side-branches bearing usually 1 (rarely 2-3) spikelet set on long slender peduncles. Peduncles very slender, 1-20 mm long and 0.1-0.2 mm thick, subtended by a 2-6 mm long filiform pale bract and the base enclosed in a 2-3 mm long tubular prophyll. Spikelets 4-7 mm long and 0.7-1.5 mm wide, acute, pale brown; the lower 2-3glumes short (1.5-2.5 mm) and sterile, the succeeding 3-4 longer (3.0-3.5 mm) and fertile, but usually only 1 or 2 setting fruit. Rachilla of the spikelet a zigzag. All glumes pale brown with midrib shortly excurrent or ending in the apex. Perianth-segments absent. Stamens 2. Style with 2 long style-branches. Nutlet 1.3-1.6 mm long (including the 0.1-0.2 mm long flat-conical top) and 1.0-1.3 mm wide, whitish, almost square, transversely wavy, with a persistent 2-3 mm long reddish brown pedicel. From: Haines, RW; Lye, KA. 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. [Acknowledgement: Nature Kenya (The East Africa Natural History Society)] [All rights reserved]
This species is identified by its slender habit, distinctly pedunculate spikelets and whitish almost square nutlet. It is most closely related to the Tanzanian species R. perrieri. From: Haines, RW; Lye, KA. 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. [Acknowledgement: Nature Kenya (The East Africa Natural History Society)] [All rights reserved]
In seasonally wet grassland and swamp-edges, particularly at the edges of depressions; resistent to seasonal burning. From: Haines, RW; Lye, KA. 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. [Acknowledgement: Nature Kenya (The East Africa Natural History Society)] [All rights reserved]
In Uganda locally common near Lake Nabugabo, elsewhere rare or absent. BUKEDI, MASAKA, WEST MENGO. Also known from the Bukoba, Songea and Sumbawanga districts in Tanzania, and here from 600-1500 m (2000-5000 ft), but not from Kenya. Widespread in West and Central Tropical Africa. Also in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. From: Haines, RW; Lye, KA. 1983. The sedges and rushes of East Africa. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. [Acknowledgement: Nature Kenya (The East Africa Natural History Society)] [All rights reserved]
0 to 1200 m
This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations
Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature
FSA
SA
BOT
NAM
ESW
LES
WC
EC
NC
FS
GA
KZN
LP
MP
NW
Absent
Indigenous
Endemic
Naturalised
Invasive
Names and Sources
Rhynchospora subquadrata Cherm.
Classification
KINGDOM Plantae
SUBKINGDOM Phanerogamae
PHYLUM Anthophyta
ORDER Poales
FAMILY Cyperaceae
SUBFAMILY Cyperoideae
TRIBE Rhynchosporeae
GENUS Rhynchospora
SPECIES gracillima
SUBSPECIES subquadrata
8 results for Rhynchospora gracillima Thwaites subsp. subquadrata (Cherm.) J.Raynal
Barcode: PRE0728622-0 Collector(s) & number: Ellery, WN, 254 | 1985-2-2
Botswana, OKAVANGO; MAUNACHIRA RIVER 20 M DOWNSTREAM GODIKWE ISLAND.
Data Resource: BODATSA View record
Barcode: PRE0740953-0 Collector(s) & number: Robinson, EA, 5522 | 1963-6-10
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, ZULULAND; RICHARDS BAY.
Data Resource: BODATSA View record
Barcode: PRE0811284-0 Collector(s) & number: Ward, CJ, 11726 | 1992-1-23
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast: Lake Nhlabane area; North Lake; E. shores.
General notes: Seepage. W. aspect. Gentle slope.
Data Resource: BODATSA View record
Barcode: PRE0607193-0 Collector(s) & number: Haines, RW, 7002 | 1979--
Eswatini, USUTU RIVER.
Data Resource: BODATSA View record
Barcode: NH0128720-0 Collector(s) & number: Ward, CJ, 11726 | 1992-1-23
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast. Lake Nhlabane area. North Lake: Eastern shores.
General notes: Vegetation type: hygrophilous sedge- & grassland. Substrate: soil (wet). Moisture regime: seepage. Soil type: peat. Exposure: sun. Aspect: West. Slope: gentle. Other: in dense graminoid stand. Plant features: tufted - tufts dense, small; roots abundant, fibrous; rhizome absent; stems very slender. Notes: common.
Data Resource: BODATSA View record
This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations
1983
BOOK
The sedges and rushes of East Africa Haines, RW; Lye, KAEast African Natural History Society, Nairobi
1972
FLORA CHAPTER
Cyperaceae Hooper, SS; Napper, DMFlora of West Tropical Africa 3(2)278-349
Crown Agents, London
No results found for Rhynchospora gracillima Thwaites subsp. subquadrata (Cherm.) J.Raynal
Status and criteria
NE
Assessor(s)
Plantae Coordinator
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