Eleocharis oropuchensis Britton
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Authority
Contributions from The New York Botanical Garden: Volume X 1921-1923.
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Family
Cyperaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Roots fibrous, finely filiform; culms finely filiform, densely tufted, weak, 5 cm. long or less, the upper sheath membranous, oblique at the summit. Spikelets terminating culms, and sessile at the base of the plant; compressed, 2-3 mm. long, ovate, about 6-flowered; their scales ovate-oblong, pale or brown with pale margins and keel, subdistichous, blunt, 1.5 mm. long; style 3-cleft; achene trigonous, smooth, pale, about 0.5 mm. long, about as long as the 3 or 4 bristles; tubercle conic, one fourth as long as the achene.
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Discussion
In mud in sunny, grassy situations, Trinidad; type from Oropuche Lagoon (Britton, Hazen and Freeman 1155, March 29, 1920).
I am indebted to Mr. N. E. Brown for comparing this little plant with West Indian and South American species in the Kew Herbarium, where he was unable to match it. He remarks upon its unusual character of having both terminal and basal spikelets, and compares it with Chaetocyperus Jamesoni Steud. from Guayaquil, Ecuador (Jameson 36Q), pointing out important differences, however.