Ehrharta stipoides Labill.

Vorontsova, Maria S., Nanjarisoa, Olinirina Prisca & Besnard, Guillaume, 2014, Three new grass records for Madagascar, Candollea 69 (1), pp. 85-87 : 86

Ehrharta stipoides Labill. , Nov. Holl. Pl. 1: 91. 1805.

≡ Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R. Br. , Prodr.: 210. 1810.

Typus: AUSTRALIA. Tasmania: Capite van-Dieman , Labillardière s.n. (holo-: FI) .

Observations. – An Australian and South East Asian species, Ehrharta stipoides Labill. (also referred to as Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R. Br. or meadow rice grass, now included in the genus Ehrharta Thunb. following Verboom & al. 2003) is recorded as naturalised in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Sri Lanka, and Easter Island ( WCSP, 2014), and in both Hawaii and Réunion, where it has become invasive ( PACIFIC ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS AT RISK, 2014). It invades disturbed sites rapidly as the awned florets are dispersed on clothing or animal fur and is reported to increase with fire ( HAWAIIAN ALIEN PLANT STUDIES, 2014). With its distinctive long awns this species is rarely misidentified and is more likely to attract the attention of collectors than other Poaceae . The lack of other collections and other sightings suggests this could be a recent arrival brought in by visitors to the Andringitra National Park. No other species of Ehrharta have been recorded in Madagascar in spite of the common occurrence of E. erecta Lam. in South Africa and Réunion.

Specimen examined. – MADAGASCAR. Prov. Fianarantsoa: Parc National Andringitra , Riampotsy , at camp 3, single plant sheltered under the picnic table, 22°10’49’’S 46°54’12’’E, 2064 m, 28.X.2013, Nanjarisoa, Vorontsova, Rakotonasolo & Joseph 90 ( K!, P!, TAN!) .