Calyptrocarya poeppigiana Kunth
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Authority
Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.
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Family
Cyperaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Caespitose perennials; culms erect, 10-25 cm tall. Leaves basal or on lower part of culm, sheath maroon, blades green to glaucous-green adaxially, reddish or maroon abaxially; largest leaves with sheath 3-7 cm long; blade 15-50 X 0.7- 1.3 cm. Inflorescences cymose panicles of 1-4 open cymes of congested, capitulate cymes, each open cyme subtended by a blade-like bract, the lowest bract 12-40 X 4-12 mm, each of the 2-4 lateral branches 1-20 mm long, terminating in a capitulate cyme or a secondary open cyme, the primary axis terminating in a sessile capitulate cyme, the fruiting capitula 3-4 mm diam., comprising 3—10 spikelets; spikelet scales 1.8-2.1 X 1-1.4 mm, mostly wine-red, the tips acute. Fruits broadly ovoid, 1.5-2 X 1.2—1.7 mm, somewhat compressed, bony-white to tan, puberulent; base ± truncate, often with a spongy ridge ca. 0.2 mm above base, the apex rounded, with an apiculus 0.2-0.3 mm long. Fr (Jan, Apr, Jul-Sep); forests, often in wet areas. Although it is clear that only one taxon is involved, the Saul collections of this species are variable, with some specimens typical of C. poeppigiana and others approaching C.