India, collector unknown s.n. [lectotype, designated by Goetghebeur and Simpson 1991, pg. 171: LINN (Herb no. 71/32 image!)].

Perennial herbs, stolon bearing. Culm up to 2 m high, acutely 3-angled, smooth or scabrid. Leaves linear, 8–19 mm wide, margin entire to scabrid. Involucral bracts leaf-like exceeding inflorescence to 60 cm. Inflorescence in terminal anthela bearing many spikelets. Spikelets ovoid-ellipsoid, 2–4 × 2–3 mm. Glumes broadly ovate or elliptic to oblong, brownish, 2–3 × 1.5–2.5 mm, membranous, abaxially pubescent, margin ciliate, apex apiculate or mucronate, single-veined. Perianth bristles 6, retrorsely scabrous or plumose, slightly shorter to slightly longer than achene. Stamens 3, longer than achene. Anthers 1.5 mm. Style 1 mm long. Stigmas 3, 1 mm long. Achene 3-sided, obovoid, 1.5 × 1–1.3 mm, brownish, smooth.

India, König s.n. [holotype: C, (C10010413 image!)].

Plant annual, tufted. Culm terete, up to 22 cm long. Leaf reduced to the bladeless sheath. Involucral bract absent. Inflorescence terminal with a single erect or slightly nodding spikelet. Spikelet lanceolate-ovoid, 5–10 × 1.5–3 mm. Glumes pale green or brown-tinged, ovate, 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm, apex obtuse and mucronate. Style flattened, apically ciliate, 2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2, ciliate. Stamens 2, as long as glumes. Achene brownish-black, obovoid, 1.5 × 1–1.5 mm, biconvex, with 6–7 rows of transversely wavy reticulation in each face, pitted with hexagonal cells, shortly stipitate. (Fig. 2B).

Nepal (new record), Bhutan, India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, New Guinea and Australia.

Grows in flood plains, riverbanks and semi-dry paddy fields; 70–676 m elev.

Flowering in August-September; fruiting in October–December.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Sita Paila, 28°10'30.92"N, 83°59'40.36"E, 676 m elev., 11 Oct 2020, P. Bhandari & A. Bhandari 20101101 (KATH, TUCH); Jhapa: Kachankawal RM, Baniyani, 26°26'15.94"N, 88°3'1.28"E, 70 m elev., 04 Dec 2020, S. Chaudhary 20120406 (KATH).

Jamaica, Collector unknown s.n. [Herb. van Royen], [lectotype, designated by Adams in Cafferty and Jarvis 2004, pg. 180: L, (L0052731 image!)].

Plant tufted, 20–50 cm tall. Culm many, irregularly angled, bladeless sheath present. Leaves shorter than culm, ligulate, 1.5–3 mm wide, margin scabrous. Involucral bracts overtopping spikelet, to 9.5 cm long. Inflorescence terminal with 4–6 spikelets, sometimes with one or two spikelets. Spikelets ovoid, 5–10 × 2–4 mm. Glumes broadly ovoid, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3 mm, puberulous apically, apiculate, vein single. Style dorsoventrally flattened, 1–1.5 mm long, apically ciliate. Stigmas 2, ciliate, slightly shorter than style. Stamens 3, double the length of the achene. Achene obovoid, biconvex, creamy, 1.2–1.5 × 1 mm, surface smooth, obscurely pitted with hexagonal cells, distinctly stipitate. (Fig. 2C).

Nepal (new record) and pantropical.

Grows in flood plains and riverbanks; 676–684 m elev.

Flowering in July–August; fruiting in September–December.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Sita Paila, 28°10'34.29"N, 83°59'42.20"E, 684 m elev., 27 Jun 2020, P. Bhandari, R. Chapagain & A. Bhandari 20062704 (KATH); Pokhara Valley, Sita Paila, 28°10'30.92"N, 83°59'40.36"E, 676 m elev., 11 Oct 2020, P. Bhandari & A. Bhandari 20101102 (KATH); Pokhara Valley, Sita Paila, 28°10'34.29"N, 83°59'42.20"E, 684 m elev., 21 Dec 2020, P. Bhandari 20122103 (KATH).

A few populations were observed with one or two spikelets, emulating a pseudo-lateral inflorescence appearance.

Malaysia, Malacca, J.G. König s.n. [lectotype, designated by Fischer 1932, pg. 69: LD (LD1283267 image!)].

Perennial tufted herb. Leaves reduced to a tubular, bladeless sheath. Involucral bract glume-like, 3.5 mm long. Inflorescence consisting of a single terminal spikelet. Spikelet slightly nodding, ovoid with spirally arranged glumes. Glumes 2–4 × 1.5–3 mm, rust-brown, oblong-elliptic, margin membranous, apiculate. Style 3.5 mm long, flattened with ciliate margin. Stigmas 2. Stamens as long as style. Achene white, obovate, 1.5 × 1 mm, biconvex, with transverse wavy reticulation, basal stipe indistinct. (Fig. 2D).

Nepal (new record), India, China, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Sir Lanka, Vietnam and Australia.

Grows in marshy areas, edges of the lake; sometimes forming a floating island of vegetation, associated with Eleocharis species and Fimbristylis species; 700 m elev.

Flowering in July–August; fruiting in September–October.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Dipang Lake, 28°10'57.90"N, 84° 4'9.28"E, 700 m elev., 17 Sep 2019, P. Bhandari & V. Adhikari KAS13 (KATH).

India, Silhet, N. Wallich 3526 [lectotype, designated by Halder and Dey 2016, pg. 357, 359: K (K000974061 image!)].

Plant rhizomatous, not tufted. Culm up to 130 cm, 5-angled. Leaf reduced to the bladeless sheath, up to 18 cm, tubular. Involucral bracts setaceous to 1 cm long. Inflorescence a compound anthela. Spikelet ovoid, 3.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm, with spirally arranged glumes. Glumes elliptic-ovoid, 1.8–2 × 1 mm, middle part chestnut brown, margin membranous, 3–veined, apex obtuse to acute, not mucronate. Style 1 mm, trigonal, basally inflated, not ciliate. Stigmas 3, as long as style, plumose. Stamens 3, 2 mm long. Achene obovoid, trigonal, 0.5–0.7 × 0.5 mm, sparsely verruculose with transversely oblong epidermal cells in more than 9 vertical rows on each face. (Fig. 2E).

Nepal, India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and New Guinea.

Grows in marshy areas; 760–835 m elev.

Flowering in July–September; fruiting in October–December.

Nepal, Dang: Tulsipur, near Damargau, Angare, 835 m elev., 17 Dec 2020, B. Subedi 20121704 (KATH); Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Gunde Lake, 28°11'30.29"N, 84°2'21.58"E, 760 m elev., 30 Dec 2020, P. Bhandari & N.L. Bhandari 20123005 (KATH, TUCH).

The protologue of Fimbristylis salbundia [≡ Trichelostylis salbundia] was based on two collections of Wallich, i.e. Wallich 3499 and 3526 from ‘Nepalia’ and ‘Silhet’, respectively (Wallich 1828; Nees 1834). All collections representing 3499 were later annotated as F. quinquangularis (Vahl) Kunth., except 3499c at B, which was F. salbundia (Nees) Kunth (Clarke 1907). The collection 3499c at B was destroyed in 1943, during the Second World War (Halder and Dey 2016). Subsequently, the occurrence of F. salbundia was not reported in the published works (Koyama 1978; Press et al. 2000; Rajbhandari and Rai 2017; Shrestha et al. 2018; POWO 2019; Govaerts et al. 2021). The rediscovery of F. salbundia after 200 years confirms the occurrence of this taxon in Nepal.

Fimbristylis salbundia is very similar to F. quinquangularis, but can be distinguished, based on the nature of its leaf sheaths and achene character. Fimbristylis salbundia is characterised by the presence of bladeless sheaths and sparsely verruculose achene, surface pitted with more than nine vertical rows of transversely oblong epidermal cells. However, Fimbristylis quinquangularis has leaf sheaths with blades and densely verruculose achene with up to six vertical rows of transversely linear-oblong epidermal cells.

India, Mount Khasia, J.D. Hooker & T. Thomson 12 [lectotype, designated by Dey and Halder 2015, pg. 230, 231: P (P00051618 image!)].

Plant more than 20 cm. Blade less sheath lacking. Leaf-blade flat, 2 mm wide, margin scabrous, ligulate. Involucral bract shorter than inflorescence, to 4.5 cm. Inflorescence terminal in compound anthela with more than 20 spikelets. Spikelets 5–7 × 1.5–3 mm, elliptic, ovoid to oblong, reddish. Glumes boat-shaped, ovate, chestnut brown, 3–3.5 × 2 mm, mid-vein keeled, arising from the base and excurrent into a mucro, 3 more lines arising each side of mid-vein from base to apex, surface glabrous, margin membranous. Style 1.5 mm long, base inflated, 3-angled, not ciliate. Stigmas 3. Stamens 3, 3 mm long. Achene white, shiny, trigonous, obovate, 1.5 × 1 mm, verruculose. (Fig. 2F).

Nepal (new record), India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.

Grows in grassland, near Schima-Castanopsis forest; 1020 m elev.

Flowering and fruiting in April.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara, Kharchyang-Aghihare Community Forest, Bhirswara, 28°9'34.27"N, 83°59'32.80"E, 1020 m elev., 25 Apr 2020, P. Bhandari & A. Bhandari KAS28 (KATH).

Suriname, D. Rolander s.n. (lectotype, designated by De Moraes 2012, pg. 65: SBT 1.3.1.47, image!).

Perennial rhizomatous herbs. Culm solitary, lowermost node swollen, 120 cm tall, acutely 5-angled, glabrous to puberulous. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 13–17 × 1.5–1.7 mm, 5-veined, apex acuminate, margin ciliate; ligule brownish, hyaline, truncate. Lower involucral bracts leaf-like, 2–10 cm long, sheath densely pubescent; upper bracts much shorter, not or hardly sheathing. Inflorescence with 8–14 glomerulate clusters of spikelets; glomerulate bearing 6–30 spikelets arising from a white villous pedicle. Spikelets greenish-brown, ovoid-ellipsoid, 4–7.5 × 2–3 mm. Glumes 2–2.5 × 1.5 mm, ellipsoid to oblong, membranous, blackish to brownish tinged, abaxially pilose towards the emarginated apex, 3-veined costa ending in a short puberulent, 0.7–1 mm awn. Perianth segments 6 in two whorls; outer 3, needle-like, whitish, apically scabrous, as long as or shorter than the stalk of inner bristles; inner bristles 3, obovoid to oblong, whitish to brownish, 1–1.5 × 0.5–0.7 mm, membranous, margin ciliate, apically densely ciliate, base gradually narrowed down into a twisted 0.5 mm stalk, apex emarginate, veins 3, ending in a short recurved awn. Stamens 3, 2.5 mm long. Anthers oblong, 0.8–1 mm long. Style 1 mm long. Stigmas 3, 1 mm long, plumose. Achene brown, ellipsoid to obovoid, 3-sided, 0.8 × 0.7–1 mm (including stipitate base), apex with a 3 mm punctate conical whitish beak. (Fig. 2G).

Nepal and pantropical.

Grows in marshy areas; 70–149 m elev.

Flowering and fruiting in January–March.

Nepal, Jhapa: Kachankawal RM, Aambari Road, Thulo Kechana, 26°25'36.56"N, 87°59'15.75"E, 70 m elev., 05 Feb 2021, P. Bhandari, A. Neupane & S. Chaudhary 21020504 (KATH, TUCH); Jhapa: Salbadi, 26°40'26.75"N, 88°0'51.90"E, 149 m elev., 05 Feb 2021, P. Bhandari, A. Neupane & S. Chaudhary 21020503 (KATH).

Published literature of Nepalese flora (Koyama 1978; Press et al. 2000; Rajbhandari and Baral 2010; Rajbhandari and Rai 2017; Shrestha et al. 2018) had not previously reported this species. However, the present finding supports Govaerts et al. (2021), which had reported its distribution in Nepal.

The Nepalese populations bear perianth segments in two whorls. The outer whorl consists of three very short needles like bristles, while the inner whorl consists of three obovate-oblong perianth segments.

New Zealand, Forster s.n. [lectotype, designated by Garnock-Jones 1986, pg. 125: K (K000883942 image!)].

Plant rhizomatous. Culms tufted, compressed to subterete, 0.7–1.2 m tall. Leaves shorter than or equalling the culm, blade biconvex with obtuse edges, apex acute. Inflorescence paniculate, laxly arranged. Spikelets ovoid, with two flowers. Glumes lanceolate, 5–6 × 2.5–3 mm, brownish, mid-vein keeled, lower part greenish, margin ciliate, apex acuminate. Style base densely sericeous. Style short, to 1.5 mm. Stigmas 3, to 6 mm long. Stamens 3, longer than achene. Anther 2.5 mm long. Achene trigonous, ellipsoid, yellowish-orange, shiny, 4–5 × 1.5–1.8 mm. (Fig. 2H).

Gudh

Culm is collected to weave handmade mats (locally called ‘gundri’).

Nepal (new record), India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and Australia.

Grows in the floating island and marshy areas; 762 m elev.

Flowering in July–September; fruiting in December–January.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Gunde Lake, 28°11'30.29"N, 84°2'21.58"E, 762 m elev., 09 Dec 2020, P. Bhandari & V. Thapa 20120913 (KATH, TUCH).

This is the first report of this genus in Nepal. The genus Machaerina shows morphological similarities to the genera Cladium and Rhynchospora. Cladium is differentiated by its solid stem and ellipsoid achene lacking disc. Machaerina is differentiated from Rhynchospora by its leaf characters; the leaves in Machaerina are distichously arranged, whereas in Rhynchospora, they are tristichously arranged.

Australia, Queensland, Endeavour River, 1770, J. Banks & D. Solander s.n. [lectotype, designated by Simpson 2019, pg. 207: BM (BM000833641 image!)].

Plant annual. Stem suberect, culm tufted, glabrous, 3-angled, to 10 cm long. Basal sheath glabrous, leaf sheath sparsely ciliate, not winged; contraligule round, barbate. Leaf-blade linear, glabrous, 2.5–7 × 0.25–3 cm. Involucral bracts leaf-like, to 11 cm long, glabrous. Inflorescence paniculate with 1–3 distant branches, each branch, with 1–3 spikelets. Peduncle recurved, slightly winged, margin ciliate. Spikelets unisexual; male spikelets linear-lanceolate, shortly peduncled, margin ciliate, glumes to 2 mm long, lanceolate, the mid-vein of the two outer ones ciliate; female spikelets with up to 5 glumes. Glumes ovate-lanceolate, 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, beset with long, patent hairs, vein prolonged into a mucro. Achene spherical-globose, 1.5 × 1.5 mm, whitish or greyish, smooth, shiny, apex with a whitish beak. Disc thick, lobe yellowish-brown, shallowly 3-lobed, rounded-obtuse, margin reflexed. (Fig. 2I).

Nepal (new record), India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, New Guinea, Japan, Korea and Australia.

Understorey of Schima-Castanopsis forest and edges of water canal; 71–755 m elev.

Flowering in August–September; fruiting in October–December.

Nepal, Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Niureni Lake, 28°11'32.96"N, 84°2'53.63"E, 755 m elev., 08 Sep 2020, P. Bhandari 20090802 (KATH); Kaski: Pokhara Valley, Niureni Lake, 28°11'32.96"N, 84°2'53.63"E, 749 m elev., 30 Dec 2020, P. Bhandari & N.L. Bhandari 20123007 (KATH); Jhapa: Kachankawal RM, Baniyani, 26°26'15.94"N, 88°3'1.28"E, 71 m elev., 04 Dec 2020, S. Chaudhary 20120410 (KATH).