Schoenoplectiella roylei (Nees) Lye

Names Isolepis lupulinus and I. roylei were published simultaneously, on same page by Nees (l.c. 1834), however, the former was combined under Schoenoplectus first.

Annual, forming small tufts, 15-25 cm. Root system small. Stem 0.5-1 mm diam., terete, grooved, smooth, green. Sheaths two, lower c. 10 mm, upper to 50 mm, in both one side green, mouth oblique, margin widely scarious; blades reduced to mucro, c. equalling ligule in length. Inflorescence a group of 2-12 sessile spikes, 10-25 mm diam.; lowest bract up to 13 mm, terete, 0.5-1 mm diam., slightly nodose, grooved, smooth, obtusely pointed. Spikes 5-12 x 3-7 mm, ovoid or ellipsoid; glumes finally reflexed, 2.8-3.6 mm, cymbiform, ovate, midnerve area green, narrow, smooth, extending into short, slightly recurved mucro, sides many-nerved, golden brown, slightly glossy, apex gently tapering, margins hardly scarious. Perianth bristles 0; stamens 3, anthers c. 0.5 mm; stigmas 3. Nut 1.2-1.3 x 0.8-1 mm, obovoid, apiculate, trigonous, almost plano-convex, sides concave, transversely rugulose, black brown.

Distribution: Iraq, SE Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, N. India; in Eastern Africa reported from Kenya to Transvaal.

Fl. Per.: April - June.

Rice fields, at pools.

Isolepis lupulina Nees, in Wight, Contrib. Bot. India: 107. 1834. Scirpus lupulinus (Nees) Roshev., FL. USSR, 3: 53. 1935 non Spreng; Isolepis roylei Nees, in Wight, Contrib. Bot. Ind: 107. 1834; Scirpus roylei (Nees) Parker in Duthie, Fl. Gangetic Plain 3: 361. 1929. Schoenoplectus roylei (Nees) Ovcz. & Czukav., Fl. Tadjik. SSR, 2: 40. 1963. Scirpus quinquefarius Hamilton ex Boeck. in Linnaea 36: 701. 1870; Haines & Lye, Sedges and rushes E. Africa: figs. 76-77. 1983 as S. roylei.