- Culm bases
- Spikelet (the black scale bar represents 1 mm)
Schoenus inconspicuus | |
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Hidden veldrush | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Cyperaceae |
Genus: | Schoenus |
Species: | S. inconspicuus |
Binomial name | |
Schoenus inconspicuus T.L.Elliott, Euston-Brown & Muasya | |
Documented collection localities in South Africa |
Schoenus inconspicuus is a species of sedge endemic to south-western areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. [1]
Schoenus inconspicuus has long, linear-lanceolate spikelets compared to other species of southern African Schoenus . [1] [2] [3] Among the southern African Schoenus, Schoenus ligulatus also has relatively long, linear-lanceolate spikelets; however, the spikelets of S. inconspicuus are longer (> 6.6 mm) compared to the shorter spikelets of S. ligulatus, which are often less than 5.7 mm. [1]
Furthermore, the spikelet glumes of S. inconspicuus are more paper-like, appearing silvery-white when young compared to those of S. ligulatus. [1] These paper-like glumes then deteriorate and shred with age in S. inconspicuus. [1] The lower spikelet glumes are also relatively long in length (often over half to 3/4 of the length of the spikelet) compared to those of S. ligulatus, which tend to be less than half of the length of the spikelet. [1] The glume mucros of S. ligulatus are more prominent compared to the poorly-formed or lacking glume mucros of S. inconspicuus. [1]
Habitat preferences differs notably between the two species, with Schoenus inconspicuus generally found on dry, acid sandy sites, while S. ligulatus is more common on wet sites. [1]
Schoenus inconspicuus is a species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae, which is a clade that includes genera such as Gahnia , Lepidosperma , Oreobolus , Costularia and Tetraria . [2] [4] [5] Based on morphological evidence, Schoenus inconspicuus is closely related to other southern African Schoenus species, specifically, species in the S. cuspidatus and allies group. [1] [2] [3]
Southern African Schoenus were once classified as Tetraria, but we currently know that the two groups are evolutionary distinct based on molecular and morphological differences. [6] To ensure that this group of sedges is monophyletic (i.e. the genus only has closely related species), several species of Epischoenus and the southern African Tetraria were transferred into Schoenus. [6] Two key differences between the two genera are that the southern African Schoenus do not have reticulate sheaths at the bases of the flowering stems and they lack the stem leaves that can be observed in Tetraria. [6]
Schoenus inconspicuus has been reported recently from only a couple of locations: one on the Cape Peninsula and a second in the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province. [1] The preferred habitat of this species is rare acid sand flats, with an elevation range of between 14 and 250 m. [1]
Schoenus quartziticus is a species of sedge endemic to the Agulhas Plain region of the Western Cape Province in southern South Africa.
Schoenus graminifolius is a species of sedge endemic to the Cape Peninsula of South Africa.
Schoenus prophyllus is a species of sedge endemic to the Agulhas Plain region of Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus ligulatus is a species of sedge endemic to the western regions of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus exilis is a species of sedge endemic to the western areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus bolusii is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. However, S. bolusii is not found on the Cape Peninsula.
Schoenus submarginalis is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.
Schoenus crassiculmis is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Few collections of this species have also been made from western areas of the Eastern Cape Province.
Schoenus limosus is a species of sedge endemic to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. It is predominantly a species of wet grasslands, which explains its common name.
Schoenus calceolus is a species of sedge endemic to limestone-derived soils in the Agulhas Plain region of South Africa.
Schoenus bracteosus is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of southern South Africa.
Schoenus comparoides is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of southern South Africa.
Schoenus crassus is a species of sedge endemic to south-western South Africa.
Schoenus galpinii is a species of sedge endemic to eastern southern Africa.
Schoenus adnatus is a species of sedge endemic to mountainous locations in southern regions of South Africa.
Schoenus gracillimus is a species of sedge endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus lucidus is a species of sedge endemic to the western mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus australis is a species of sedge endemic to locations near the southern coast of South Africa.
Schoenus graciliculmis is a species of sedge endemic to regions of the southern Eastern Cape Province and nearby regions of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus crinitus is a species of sedge endemic to the Worcester region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.