Scleria canescens Boeckeler
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Cyperaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Perennial herb, robust, climbing, forming large impenetrable colonies, and attaining 3.5 m in length. Culms ascendant, acutely triquetrous. 3-10 mm wide, retrorsely and antrorsely scabrous on the corners, strigose on the distal portion. Leaves numerous, alternate, sparse, broadly linear. 25-60 x 0.4-1.0 cm, pleated or almost flat, with three main parallel veins, subrigid, retrorsely scabrous on the veins and the margins, the apex acuminate or obtuse; leaf sheath as long as the internode. scabrous on the angles. Panicles solitary, distal or axillary, pyramidal, the distal ones 6-14 cm long, with a short leafy bract at the base; axes minutely pubescent or glabrous; bracteoles filiform. Staminate and pistillate spikelets 4-6 mm long; sterile scales 4-5, ovate-circular, brown or reddish brown, finely ciliate on the margins, the apex apiculate. Achenes ovoid-globose or ovoid, 2.6-3.3 mm long, white, shiny or with a purple tinge; hypogynium trilobate, 1-1.8 mm long, whitish, the lobes semicircular, with the margins reflexed and appressed to the achene.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Apparently endemic to Puerto Rico. Locally very common.
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Common Names
cortadera, cortadora