1186

 Schoenoplectiella articulata (L.) Ly

Synonym	:	Scirpus articulatus L.
Family	:	Cyperaceae
Local name	:	Malayalam- Chelli
Flowering and fruiting period	:	August-December
Distribution	:	India  Throughout; Nepal, Sri Lanka, Africa, Japan, South East Asia, Malaya
Distribution in kerala	:	Alappuzha, Kasaragode, Idukki, Malappuram, K
Habitat	:	Wet places,
Uses	:	used as a purgative.
Key Botanical Characters: Erect tufted non rhizomatous perennials, 25-35 cm tall; stem terete, transversely septate, hollow, smooth, glabrous, green. Leaves well developed in young plants, when matures leaves are not seen and base of the stem covered with 2-3 bladeless sheaths only; sheaths 2-3, upper ones 5-10 cm long, cylindrical, mouth truncate, lower sheaths reduced, 1-15 cm long. Inflorescence a pseudolateral head, seen below the middle of the stem (inflorescence appear above the water surface), 1-3 cm long and wide; bracts 1, erect, continuous with the stem, much longer than the stem. Spikelets cylindrical, 8-15 x 3-4 mm, sessile, oblong-acute; rachilla persistent, wingless; glumes spiral, ovate-acute, 4-5 x 3-4 mm, many nerved, shortly keeled, margins hyaline; hypogynous bristles absent. Stamens 3, anthers oblong, 1 mm long. Style long; stigmas 3, shorter than the style. Nut obovate, acutely triquetrous, 1.5-1.8 x 1.2-1.3 mm, apiculate, dark brown, inconspicuously wavy ridged.