Eleocharis sphacelata (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Eleocharis sphacelata R. Br.

Family: Cyperaceae

Vernacular names

• Papua New Guinea: kur (Enga language).

Distribution

North-eastern New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Uses

In Papua New Guinea the stems are used by women for making skirts, for which purpose E. sphacelata is sometimes cultivated. The aerial parts are grazed by domestic animals and can be used as fodder.

Observations

A perennial herb, up to 2 m tall, with very stout, woody, shortly creeping rhizome up to 1 cm thick but never producing tubers. Stems in a close linear series, up to 12 mm thick. Leaves reduced to bladeless, tubular sheaths. Inflorescence a terminal, ebracteate, single spikelet; spikelet cylindrical, up to 6 cm × 9 mm, many-flowered; glumes densely packed, many-veined, the lowest 1-2 usually empty; flowers bisexual with perianth of 8-10 bristles, stamens 2-3, pistil with 2-3-fid style. Fruit a pale brown nut, obovate to orbicular, 2-2.5 mm × 2 mm, with ribbed margins and a prominent longitudinal furrow. E. sphacelata is found in swamps at 2200-2900 m altitude. Because of a high potential for internal pressurization and low internal resistance, internal gas transport in E. sphacelata is easier than in some other wetland plants, such as Cyperus involucratus Rottb., allowing it to grow in deeper water. E. sphacelata much resembles E. dulcis (Burm.f.) Trinius ex Henschel (Chinese water chestnut) but it never forms tubers, its spikelets are broader and its fruits are slightly larger. It is so close to E. dulcis that it could be considered a subspecies.

Selected sources

18, 47, 158.

Authors

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch