Authority:

Maguire, Bassett. 1972. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IX. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 23: 1-832.

Family:

Cyperaceae

Description:

Distribution and Ecology - Distribution. Confined to eastern Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, and the Guianas. Rare in sandy or rocky savanna. COLOMBIA. Vaupés: Cerro Camejen, Grassi 10014 (NY, US). VENEZUELA. Bolívar: Río Karuai, between Santa Teresita de Kavanayén and base of Ptari-tepuí, 1220 m alt, Steyermark 60343 (F, NY), La Gran Sabana, ca 2 km NW of Kamarata, 450 m alt, Koyama & Agostini 7272 (NY, VEN). TRINIDAD. [Without details,] Lockhart 299 (K, NY); Aripo Savanna, Graf s n (NY), Britton et al 2003 & 282 (NY), Cowan & Richardson 1148 (NY, US). GUYANA. Kaieteur Plateau, Maguire & Fanshawe 23312 (NY); Kaieteur Savannah, Sandwith 1445 (K, NY). SURINAME. Road between Moengo Tapoe and Grote Zwiebelzwamp, near Km 6, Lanjouw & Lindeman 554 (NY, U), eadem loco, near Km 13, 9, Lanjouw & Lindeman 794 (NY, U). FRENCH GUIANA. Cayenne, Jelski in 1867 (GH).

Discussion:

Rhynchospora scapigera Böckeler, Linnaea 38: 402. 1874. Type. Jelski (B, GH) from [Cayenne,] French Guiana.

Type. Lockhart 299 (K, NY) from Trinidad.

Rhynchospora curvula is the most distinct species of the section Plumososetosae in its narrow spikelets, which are normally greenish in contrast to brownish in others. The leaves in this species are slender and elongated in inland localities, while they tend to be somewhat broader and short in sandy or coastal localities. The specimens cited above mark a considerable range extension of this rare species into Colombia and Venezuela since it has hitherto been known only from Trinidad and the Guianas.

Distribution:

Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|