Volume 6 > Part 4 > Year 1998 > Page 317 > Cyperaceae > Fimbristylis

32. Fimbristylis ferruginea (L.) Vahlwfo-0000420815

En. Pl. 2: 291. 1806; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 6: 638. 1893; Camus in Fl. Gén. I.-C. 7: 108. 1912; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 5: 576. 1925; J.Kern, Reinwardtia 6: 45. 1961; in Fl. Males., Ser. 1, Spermat. 7: 572. 1974; Raymond, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 334. 1966; T.Koyama, Bot. Mag. Tokyo 87: 321. 1974; Hô, Câyco Viêtnam III. 2: 652. 1993.— Scirpus ferrugineus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 50. 1753. Fig. 16: A–E.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Rhizomatous, often clump-forming perennial, the rhizome often somewhat creeping. Culms tufted, or crowded along creeping rhizome, 15–5 cm by 0.5–1.5 mm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves arising on lower part of culm; blade narrowly linear, 1–15 cm by 0.6–2.5 mm, obtuse, canaliculate to inrolled-margined; sheath cylindric 2–12 cm long, pale glaucous to brown or orange brown, apex truncate; ligule a fringe of short hairs. Involucral bracts 1–3, leaf-like, the longest erect, shorter to longer than inflorescence, 1–3 cm long. Inflorescence simple, rarely compound, rather compact, 1.2–5 by 1–3.5 cm; primary branches 3–7, 0.7–4 cm long. Spikelets 3–15 per inflorescence, usually solitary, ovoid-conical or ellipsoid-conical, terete, 8–20 by 2.5–4 mm. Glumes many per spikelet, spirally imbricate, broadly ovate-elliptic or broadly ovate, 3.5–4.2 by 1.8–2.8 mm, obtuse, mucronate, sides thinly chartaceous, pale to dark brown, sparsely to densely shortly pubescent, margins ciliate, keel obtuse, 1-nerved. Stamens 3; anthers 1.5–1.7 mm long. Stigmas 2. Nutlets broadly obovate, biconvex, 1–1.2 by 0.7–0.8 mm, maturing light orange brown or yellowish brown, smooth, with indistinct isodiametric epidermal cells.

Thailand : SOUTH-WESTERN: Prachuap Khiri Khan (Khao Chrongwan, Khao Tao, Sam Roy Yot); CENTRAL: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), Samut Prakan (Ban Bong Pu Kao); SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri (Huai Karian), Chon Buri, Rayong (Ban Phae), Chanthaburi (Klung, Khung Kaben), Trat (Ko Chang); PENINSULAR: Surat Thani (Ko Prap, Ko Samui, Pak Nam Chanya), Phuket (Muang), Krabi, Satun (Ko Tarutao), Narathiwat (Su-ngai Padi).

Distribution : Pantropical (Jamaica – type).

Ecology : Margins of brackish swamps and open, wet areas of clay or sandy soil near sea.

Notes: This species has a ligule of short hairs, rather hairy glumes which are nerveless except for the midrib, two stigmas and a smooth nutlet. In addition the rhizome is often somewhat creeping with cuims crowded along it.