A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

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A FLORA OF MANILA
In open fresh water swamps, along streams etc., fl. May-Nov.; widely
distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya.
2. S. articulatus L.
A densely tufted plant 20 to 50 cm high, the stems rather spongy,
terete, leafless, when dry often transversely septate. Spikelets ovoid to
oblong, 1 cm long or less, 7 to 30 in a dense, globose, lateral head near the
base of the stems. Glumes ovate, about 4 mm long. Nuts 3-angled,
black and shining, obovoid, about 2 mm long. Hypogynous bristles hone.
In open wet places, fl. Oct.-Apr. ; widely distributed in the Philippines.
Tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia.
3. S. mucronatus L.
A tufted rather coarse plant, the stems 3-angled, 40 to 80 cm high,
leafless or nearly so, produced beyond the inflorescence 2 to 9 cm, sharp,
the sheaths basal. Spikelets in a single, lateral, dense head, ovoid to
oblong, 6 to 15 mm long, 5 to 20 in each head. Glumes numerous, ovate,
acute, about 4 mm long. Nut obovoid, somewhat compressed, about 2 mm
long, smooth and shining; style 3-fid. Hypogynous bristles 5 or 6, re-
trorsely scabrous.
In open wet places, fl. all the year; widely distributed in the Philippines.
Europe to Madagascar, Asia, Malaya, and Australia.
4. S. supinus L.
A slender tufted plant 10 to 30 cm high, the leaves all basal, few,
1 cm long or less or reduced to sheaths. Stems terete, produced 3 to 10
cm above the inflorescence. Spikelets 3 to 7 in a single lateral head,
ovoid to oblong, 4 to 7 mm long. Glumes numerous, ovate, acuminate,
2 to 2.5 mm long. Nuts brown or black, 1.2 mm long, shining, slightly
transversely rugose, 3-angled and somewhat compressed. Hypogynous
bristles none.
In old rice-paddies and open wet places, Caloocan, fl. Oct.-March;
widely distributed in the Philippines. Tropics generally.
5. S. erectus Poir.
A rather slender tufted plant 20 to 60 cm high, the leaves few, short,
basal, or wanting, the stems terete, produced beyond the inflorescence
2 to 10 cm. Spikelets solitary or more often 2 to 5 in a lateral head,
ovoid to oblong, 1 cm long or less. Glumes ovate, concave, about 3.5 mm
long. Nut obovoid, black or brown, shining, somewhat compressed, 2 mm
long. Hypogynous bristles 5 or 6, about as long as the nut.
In open grass lands, San Pedro Macati, fl. more or less all the year;
widely distributed in the Philippines. Temperate and tropical regions
generally.
10. FUIRENA Rottboell
Tufted, the stems bearing leaves or leaf-rlike bracts even in the upper
half. Leaves grass-like, base sheathing. Spikelets clustered. Glumes imbricate
on all sides, strongly aristate, hairy on the upper one-half. Hypogynous
bristles 6, often much reduced, or none. Sepals 3, bristle-like. Petals
and stamens 3. Style long, glabrous, slender, 3-cleft. Nut small, ovoid
or obovoid, 3-angled, often stalked, smooth or reticulate. (In honor of
G. Fuiren, a Danish physician and botanist.)
Species about 25 in all warm regions, 2 in the Philippines.