New species of eleocharis subgen. Limnochloa (Cyperaceae) from the old and new world tropics

Abstract

Two new tropical species in Eleocharis subgen. Limnochloa (P. Beauv. ex T. Lestib.) Torr. (Cyperaceae) are described and their relationships with presumably allied species are discussed. Eleocharis hooperiana D. J. Rosen from Sierra Leone in West Tropical Africa differs from the morphologically similar and presumably close taxonomic ally E. nupeensis Hutch. in a combination of coarser culms, longer and more coarsely spinulose perianth bristles, and larger fruits. Eleocharis tenuiculmis D. J. Rosen from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso differs from the similar slender-culmed species E. elongata Chapm. in a combination of narrower culms, longer perianth bristles, and generally larger, biconvex fruits. © Missouri Botanical Garden 2010.