Scleria
| Scleria | |
|---|---|
| Scleria testacea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Scleria P.J.Bergius |
| Diversity | |
| About 200 species | |
Scleria is a genus of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. They are known commonly as nutrushes.[1] They are distributed throughout the tropics, and some species have ranges extending into temperate areas.[2] There are about 200 species.[2][3]
Etymology
The genus name Scleria is Greek, meaning "hardness", in reference to the tough seeds.[4]
Description
Plants of this genus are diverse in appearance. These are mostly perennial, but sometimes annual. Some have rhizomes. They produce solitary stems or clumps of many. They are a few centimeters tall to well over one meter. They have few leaves or many. The inflorescence is variable, ranging from a single spikelet to over 100.[3] Despite the variety, examination of the fruits and subterranean structures is required to distinguish species.[2]
Selected species
- Scleria afroreflexa
- Scleria amazonica
- Scleria biflora
- Scleria bracteata
- Scleria ciliaris
- Scleria ciliata
- Scleria dregeana
- Scleria foliosa
- Scleria greigiifolia
- Scleria iostephana
- Scleria mackaviensis
- Scleria mikawana
- Scleria oligantha
- Scleria pauciflora
- Scleria poklei
- Scleria reticularis
- Scleria robinsoniana
- Scleria sumatrensis
- Scleria terrestris
- Scleria triglomerata
- Scleria verticillata
- Scleria vogelii
References
External links
- Camelbeke, K. and P. Goetghebeur. (2002). The genus Scleria (Cyperaceae) in Colombia. An updated checklist. Caldasia 24(2), 259–68.