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This species is accepted, and its native range is Tropical & Subtropical Old World.
Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Hensch.

[FTEA]

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type
Type: “India”, no further indication
Morphology General Habit
Robust perennial 30–120 cm tall, with tufted culms from a contracted base.
Morphology Culms
Culms bright green, rounded (rarely quadrangular), hollow, 4–8 mm thick, septate at 3–10 cm intervals, contracted to 2–3 mm immediately below the inflorescence.
Morphology Roots
Roots orange, turning red-brown.
Vegetative Multiplication Stolons
Stolons white when young, to 30 cm long and to 6 mm across, with 5–8 mm long sheaths at the nodes.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths to 1/2 or 1/3 of the culm height, ending in a triangular lobe
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a pale green cylindric spikelet 25–50 mm long, 2–6 mm across, narrower than the culm, sometimes aborting and leaving a scar; lowest glumes shorter than upper, most closely overlapping, green to pale brown with pale margin, 4–6 mm long, with wide transparent margin and rounded apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth of ± 7 long slender bristles with recurved spine-like teeth all over
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens white, 3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers elongate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style white, with 2–3 branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 2–2 mm long excluding the long brown triangular appendage, smooth
Figures
Fig 7, p38
Ecology
Swamps, shallow parts of lakes, often in standing water; may be locally common or form pure stands; 0–2150 m
Note
The only Eleocharis in our area with transverse septa. This is a widespread species, cultivated in Asia: “Chinese water chestnut”.
Distribution
Range: Togo, Congo-Kinshasa, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa; Madagascar, Asia to Queensland and Polynesia Flora districts: U3 U4 K4 K7 T4 T6 T7 T8

Native to:

Andaman Is., Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast, Congo, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Korea, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nigeria, Northern Territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Réunion, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., Western Australia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status
Dec 3, 1985 Geesink, R. [7136], Thailand K000595200
Kerr, A.F.G. [7063], Thailand K000595197
Collins, D.J. [1893], Thailand K000595198
Niyondham, C. [1699], Thailand K000595201
Kerr, A.F.G. [11289], Thailand K000595207
Kerr, A.F.G. [11289], Thailand K000595208
Kerr, A.F.G. [2621], Thailand K000595206
Bidgood, S. [5170], Tanzania K000190398
Hansen, B. [12375], Thailand K000595199

First published in Vita Rumphii: 186 (1833)

Accepted by

  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Browning, J. & al. (2020). Flora Zambesiaca 14: 1-455. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Catarino, L., Martins, E.S., Diniz, M.A. & Pinto-Basto, M.F. (2006). Check-list da flora vascular do parque natural das Lagos de Cufada (Guiné-Bissau) Garcia de Orta, Série de Botânica 17: 97-141.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Govaerts, R. & Simpson, D.A. (2007). World Checklist of Cyperaceae. Sedges: 1-765. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Govaerts, R. (2004). World Checklist of Monocotyledons Database in ACCESS: 1-54382. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H. (2010). Cyperaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-466.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo) Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.
  • Lye, K.A. & Thery, P. (2012). Flore du Gabon 44: 1-230. Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
  • Marais, W. & Araujo, A.C. (2018). Flore des Mascareignes 202: 1-99. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Middleton, D.J. & al. (eds.) (2019). Flora of Singapore 7: 1-525. Singapore Botanic Gardens.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Sosef, M.S.M. & al. (2006). Check-list des plantes vasculaires du Gabon Scripta Botanica Belgica 35: 1-438.
  • Walker, E.H. (1976). Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands: 1-1159. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2010). Flora of China 23: 1-515. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H. (2010). Cyperaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-466.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo) Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.
  • Marais, W. & Araujo, A.C. (2018). Flore des Mascareignes 202: 1-99. IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Morat, P. & Veillon, J.-M. (1985). Contributions à la conaissance de la végétation et de la flore de Wallis et Futuna Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Section B, Adansonia 7: 259-329.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Sosef, M.S.M. & al. (2006). Check-list des plantes vasculaires du Gabon Scripta Botanica Belgica 35: 1-438.
  • Walker, E.H. (1976). Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu islands: 1-1159. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2010). Flora of China 23: 1-515. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Rhodora 41: 11 (1939)
  • Sedges & Rushes E. Afr.: 66, fig. 89 (1983).
  • Vita Rumph.: 186 (1833)

Art and Illustrations in Digifolia
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew

Flora of Tropical East Africa
Flora of Tropical East Africa
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Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

Kew Backbone Distributions
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Plants and People Africa
Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
© Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/