Biology:Schoenus quartziticus
| Schoenus quartziticus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Surrounded by renosterveld | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Schoenus |
| Species: | S. quartziticus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Schoenus quartziticus T.L.Elliott & Muasya
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
None | |
Schoenus quartziticus is a species of sedge endemic to southern South Africa.
Diagnostic characters
Similar to other sedges, plants in this group are very difficult to identify. It appears that part of this problem is caused by the tendency of the southern African Schoenus to form hybrids with each other.
Key diagnostic characters of this species include spikelets that are mostly less than 4.0 mm in length, with thin and membranaceous glumes.[1] The plants resemble Schoenus exilis; however, the nutlets of S. quartziticus are broad elliptic, while those of S. exilis are narrow elliptic in shape.[1]
Taxonomy
Schoenus quartziticus is a species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae.[1] Other notable genera in tribe Schoeneae include Lepidosperma, Oreobolus, Costularia, Tetraria and Gahnia.[1][2][3] The most closely-related species to S. quartziticus are other southern African Schoenus species, specifically, species in the Schoenus cuspidatus group.[1]
Southern African Schoenus were once classified as Tetraria; however, based on molecular and morphological differences, we now know that the two groups are evolutionary distinct.[4] To ensure that this group of sedges is monophyletic (i.e. the genus only has closely-related species), the southern African Tetraria were transferred into Schoenus. In the field, the southern African Schoenus can be distinguished from Tetraria species by their lack of stem leaves and the absence of reticulate sheaths at the bases of the flowering stems.[4]
Distribution and ecology
Schoenus quartziticus is currently known to occur in quartz patches on shale-derived soils of the Agulhas Plain region of South Africa. It is likely that only a very few populations of this species remain.[1]
Images
In its native renosterveld habitat
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Elliott, T.L.; Barrett, R.L.; Muasya, A.M. (2019). "A taxonomic revision of Schoenus cuspidatus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae)—Part 1". South African Journal of Botany 121: 519–535. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2018.11.021.
- ↑ Viljoen, J.-A.; Muasya, A.M.; Barrett, R.L.; Bruhl, J.J.; Gibbs, A.K.; Slingsby, J.A.; Wilson, K. L.; Verboom, G.A. (2013). "Radiation and repeated transoceanic dispersal of Schoeneae (Cyperaceae) through the southern hemisphere". American Journal of Botany 100 (12): 2494–2508. doi:10.3732/ajb.1300105.
- ↑ Larridon, I.; Bauters, K.; Semmouri, I.; Viljoen, J.-A.; Prychid, C.J.; Muasya, A.M.; Bruhl, J.J.; Wilson, K.L. et al. (2018). "Molecular phylogenetics of the genus Costularia (Schoeneae, Cyperaceae) reveals multiple distinct evolutionary lineages". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 126: 196–209. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Elliott, T.L.; Muasya, A.M. (2017). "Taxonomic realignment in the southern African Tetraria (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae; Schoenus clade)". South African Journal of Botany 112: 354–360. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2017.06.011.
Wikidata ☰ Q63435975 entry
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