Trichanthecium calvum (Stapf) Zuloaga

Zuloaga, Fernando Omar, Aliscioni, Sandra, Delfini, Carolina & Salariato, Diego Leonel, 2024, Old World species of Trichanthecium (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae) including a new species from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Phytotaxa 646 (3), pp. 230-264 : 239-241

3. Trichanthecium calvum (Stapf) Zuloaga , comb. nov.

Panicum calvum Stapf (1920: 723) .

Lectotype (here designated):— KENYA. Aberdare forests, E. Batiscombe 685 ( K [ 000282433 !], isolectotype K [ 000282434 !]) . Fig. 4

Perennial, not tufted; culms slender, (15–)20–90(–130) cm long, rooting and branching from lower nodes, then erect; internodes cylindrical, 2–14 cm long, longer than sheaths, hollow, glabrous; nodes brownish, compressed, glabrous. Sheaths striate, 2–12 cm long, densely hispid to glabrous, the upper margins ciliate. Ligule membranous, 0.5 mm long; collar pilose. Blades ovate-lanceolate, 4–13× 0.5–2 cm, herbaceous densely hirsute to glabrous, the base cordate, amplexicaul, acuminate, the margins shortly ciliate. Inflorescence a terminal exserted, lax and open panicle, (8–)13– 19(–25) × 12–20 cm; peduncle cylindrical, 10–20 cm long, glabrous, pulvini glabrous; first-order branches alternate to subopposite, axis of the branches glabrous, spikelets sparsely distributed on second-order branches, pedicels 2–5 mm long, claviform, glabrous. Spikelets narrowly ellipsoid, 2–2.6× 0.8–0.9 mm, tinged with purple; lower glume 1–1.4 mm long, 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the spikelet, 1–3-nerved, acute, membranous, glabrous; upper glume (5–)7- nerved, membranous, acute, glabrous; lower lemma glumiform, (5–)7-nerved, acute, glabrous; lower palea absent, lower flower neuter. Upper anthecium ovoid, 1.7–1.9 × 0.7–0.8 mm, indurate, glabrous, smooth, shiny. Caryopsis ellipsoid, 1.5 × 0.6 mm; hilum punctiform, embryo less than 1/3 the length of the caryopsis.

Distribution and habitat: —Species widely distributed in West and East tropical Africa. It grows in forest shades and forest margins, at 1000–2900 m elevation.

Typification: — Stapf (1920) included four syntypes, from Kenya and Uganda, in his diagnosis of P. calvum . We choose Batiscombe 685 (K000282433), as the lectotype, since it includes a full specimen that has original drawings by Stapf (1920), and agrees completely with the original description of the species.

Other syntypes of P. calvum are: UGANDA: Ruwenzori: in shady forest near Kivata, May 1893, Scott Elliott 7647 (BM [000923141] image!, K [000282435!], 7686 (BM [000923140] image!, K [000282436!]): Mt. Elgon in thickets about Butalivi, January 1918, R. A. Dummer 3727 (K [000282437!]).

Note: — Brown (1977) reported that this is a non-Kranz species.

Representative specimens examined: — BURUNDI. Bujumbura. Ijenda-Mayuyu, 18 May 1969, Lewalle 3569 ( P). Muramvya. Bugarama , 5 June 1976, Reekmans 5214 ( BR, MO) ; Nyabigondo, 2 February 1967, Lewalle 1548 ( BR). CAMEROON. Buea , December 1927, Maitland 104 ( BR, US) ; versant occidental et crete montagne de Tabenken, 10 km SE Nkambe , 14 November 1974, Letouzey 13255 ( P) ; Bambari , 18 April 1981, Rousvoal 61 ( P) ; Tchabal Mbabo, de Ardo Bouba a Ardo Niakol , 1 November 1967, Jacques-Felix 8962 ( P) ; Massif du Manengouba, 15 km NW Nkoncsamba , 30 August 1975, Letouzey 14405 ( P) ; Mont Cameroun, 31 July 1974, Dujardin 251 ( BR). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Mikeno, Parc National Albert , 17 August 1937, Louis 5239 ( BR, P), flanc NW du Volcan Karisimbi, s.d., Louis 5248 ( BR), August 1937, Lebrun 7278 ( P) ; District Kivu Nord, Virungavulkane, Nyamuragira , N-Hang, 22August 1954, Stauffer 128 ( P). ETHIOPIA. 15 km SW of Gera on trail to Afallo , 2 December 1964, Meyer 8859 ( P) ; 22 km west of Bonta, Kaffa Prov., 2 January 1965, Meyer 9072 ( P), 34 km S of Gore, 6 km S of Gurbadima , along Gore-Mossha track, 17 December 1972, Friis et al. 1841 ( BR, C) ; 25 km S of Gore along the Gore-Mossha track, Ainingeria forest, 19 December 1972, Friis et al. 1862 ( BR, C). KENYA. Fort Hall District: Kimakia Forest Reserve , 3 May 1957, Napper 664 ( K) ; 15 miles SSW of Nyeri , 14 November 1956, Bogdan 4346 ( P) ; Aberdare Range, E edge of gate to Aberdare National Park, Croat 28398 ( MO). SIERRA LEONE. Loma Mountains , Jaeger 8317 ( P). TANZANIA. Moshi District: Weru Weru Furrow , 20 November 1967, Vesey-Fitzgerald 5472 ( K) ; Lushoto District: Mazumbai, W. Usambaras , 9 May 1953, Drummond & Hemsley 2454 ( K, P) ; Lushoto, Renvoize 1765 ( K, US) ; Makete District: Livingstone Mountains, ca. 1.5 km W of church at Madihani , 15 June 1992, Gereau & Kayombo 4722 ( MO) ; Rungwe District: Ngozi Forest, Faden et al. 96/411 (US). UGANDA. Kigezi District : Kachwekano , 3 July 1945, Thomas 4230 ( K). Mbale District: Butandiga, 12 September 1927, Snowden 1231 ( K, US) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Trichanthecium calvum. A. Habit. B. Ligular region. C. Detail of a branch of the inflorescence. D. Spikelet, ventral view. E. Spikelet, dorsal view. F. Upper anthecium, dorsal view. G. Upper palea. H. Caryopsis, hilum view. I. Caryopsis, embryo view. (Louis 5248 BR).