| Schoenus quartziticus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Quartz veldrush | |
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 | |
 | |
| Documented collection localities | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
None | |
Schoenus quartziticus is a species of sedge endemic to the Agulhas Plain region of the Western Cape Province in southern South Africa.
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]
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 S. quartziticus forms hybrids with other southern African Schoenus species. [1]
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] [3] [4] The most closely related species to S. quartziticus are other southern African Schoenus species, specifically, species in the S. cuspidatus and allies group that are endemic to the Agulhus Plain and Eastern Cape regions. [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 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]
Schoenus arenicola is a species of sedge endemic to the south-west coast of South Africa.
Schoenus megacarpus is a species of sedge endemic to the south-central region of South Africa.
Schoenus auritus is a species of sedge endemic to southern and eastern 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 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 crassus is a species of sedge endemic to south-western South Africa.
Schoenus riparius is a species of sedge endemic to the Cape Peninsula of South Africa.
Schoenus galpinii is a species of sedge endemic to eastern southern Africa.
Schoenus cuspidatus is a species of sedge endemic to the Cape region of South Africa where it is found in the provinces of Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Schoenus dregeanus is a species of sedge endemic to mountainous locations in south-western South Africa.
Schoenus adnatus is a species of sedge endemic to mountainous locations in southern regions of South Africa.
Schoenus complanatus is a species of sedge endemic to the western mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus gracillimus is a species of sedge endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Schoenus brunnescens is a species of sedge endemic to the Western Cape Province 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.