Scleria latifolia Sw.
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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, 1-2 m tall, the angles only slightly scabrous. Leaves cauline, doubly plicate, 5-7- veined; sheath 9—35 cm long, green or reddish, the wings 5— 10 mm broad, slightly scabrous, decurrent with margins and midrib of blade, the contraligule deltate to transversely so, 1- 8 mm long, unappendaged; blade 40-65 X 3.7-5.2 cm, slightly scabrous along margins, green adaxially and abaxially. Inflorescences of 2 or 3 panicles, the lateral ones each subtended by a leaf-like bract, the terminal panicle largest, 5-12 X 5-14 cm, roughly ovoid, brown to reddish brown, very finely puberulent; secondary branches bearing spikelets or spikelet-bearing branchlets; staminate spikelets 2.8-4 X 0.9-1.6 mm, pedicellate; pistillate spikelets ovoid, 3.9-4.8 X 1.3—1.5 mm, sessile or nearly so, becoming distended and open as fruit matures. Hypogynium strongly fimbriate, enclosing ± basal third of fruit, stramineous, occasionally tinged reddish. Fruits spherical to obloid, 2.2-3 X 2.2-3.2 mm diam., white to purple, style base not persistent.
Distribution and Ecology - Fr (Jan, Feb, Sep); forest and forest trails