| Schoenus purpurascens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Purple veldrush | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Schoenus |
| Species: | S. purpurascens |
| Binomial name | |
| Schoenus purpurascens T.L.Elliott & Muasya | |
 | |
Schoenus purpurascens is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of the southwestern part of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, with its distribution centered around the Caledon area. [1]
The loose membranaceous sheath, often with reddish-purple spots or streaks, of S. purpurascens are a key diagnostic character. [1] Schoenus purpurascens also has non-channelled leaf blades that often appear flat and ovate spikelets with relatively short mucros. [1] The ovate spikelets are usually less than 4.1 mm in length. [1]
A similar species to S. purpurascens that overlaps in its distributional area is Schoenus bolusii . [1] These two species both have membranaceous leaf sheaths with reddish-purple streaks or spots; however, as the leaf blades of S. bolusii are channelled and terete, those of S. purpurascens appear flat because they are usually not channelled. [1] The spikelets of the two species also differ, with S. bolusii having thinner spikelets that are lanceolate to ovate in form, while those of S. purpurascens are ovate. [1]
Two species that also have ovate spikelets are Schoenus prophyllus and Schoenus calceolus , but these two species have channelled leaves compared to the non-channelled leaves of S. purpurascens. [1]
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. [2] It is not clear whether Schoenus purpurascens forms hybrids with other southern African Schoenus species. [1]
Schoenus purpurascens is a species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae. [1] Other notable genera in tribe Schoeneae include Lepidosperma , Oreobolus , Costularia, Tetraria and Gahnia . [1] [3] [4] The most closely related species to S. purpurascens are other southern African Schoenus species, specifically, species in the S. cuspidatus and allies 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. [5] 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. [5] 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. [5]
Schoenus purpurascens has a relatively narrow distribution, centered on the Caledon region of the southwestern part of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. [1] This species usually grows on moist to well-drained mountain slopes, ranging from 275 to over 1000 m in elevation. [1]
Schoenus quartziticus is a species of sedge endemic to the Agulhas Plain region of the Western Cape Province in southern South Africa.
Schoenus pseudoloreus is a species of sedge endemic to the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Its range also reaches the western border of Eastern Cape Province.
Schoenus megacarpus is a species of sedge endemic to the south-central region of South Africa.
Schoenus filiculmis is a species of sedge endemic to the western mountains of the Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Schoenus auritus is a species of sedge endemic to southern and eastern South Africa.
Schoenus prophyllus is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family. It is 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 albovaginatus is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of south-western South Africa.
Schoenus bracteosus is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of southern South Africa.
Schoenus compactus is a species of sedge endemic to south-western 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 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.