Schoenus comparoides is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of southern South Africa.
| Schoenus comparoides | |
|---|---|
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| Foothill Veldrush | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Schoenus |
| Species: | S. comparoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Schoenus comparoides T.L.Elliott & Muasya
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| Documented collection localities in South Africa | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editSchoenus comparoides was initially included in the circumscription of Schoenus compar because of the morphological similarities between the two species.[1][2] However, S. comparoides lacks the viscous culm bases that are evident in S. compar.[1] A second key difference between the two species is that all of the spikelet glumes of S. compar are thick and firm, whereas only the lower glumes of S. comparoides are thick and firm.[1] Furthermore, the distribution of the two species differs with S. comparoides found more on mountainous slopes of the eastern Western Cape Province into adjacent regions of the Eastern Cape Province, whereas S. compar is found farther to the west and along the south-western coast of South Africa.[1]
Another species that closely resembles S. comparoides is Schoenus arenicola, but the leaves of S. arenicola are shorter compared to those of the former species.[1] Another key difference between the two species are the beaks of the nutlets, with the nutlet beaks of S. arenicola being continuous with the body of the nutlet, whereas those of S. comparoides are distinct and slightly bulge over the nutlet body.[1] Schoenus arenicola also differs in its distribution, as it is endemic to the coarse-textured soils of the south-western coast of South Africa.[1]
Plants in the southern African Schoenus clade are very difficult to identify, which is similar to other sedges. It appears that part of this problem is caused by the tendency of the southern African Schoenus to form hybrids with each other.[3] It is possible that S. comparoides might form hybrids with other species in the Schoenus compar – Schoenus pictus and allies group,[2] but evidence for this relationship is lacking.
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Base of flowering stems -
Inflorescence (flowering head) -
Spikelet (black scale bar represents 1 mm) -
Nutlet (black scale bar represents 1 mm)
Taxonomy
editSchoenus comparoides is a species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae.[1] Other notable genera in tribe Schoeneae include Lepidosperma, Oreobolus, Costularia, Tetraria and Gahnia.[4][5] The most closely related species to S. comparoides are other southern African Schoenus species in the Schoenus compar – Schoenus pictus and allies group.[2]
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.[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] 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.[6]
Distribution and habitat
editSchoenus comparoides is known to occur in eastern parts of the Western Cape Province and adjacent parts of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.[1] Observations of this species have been documented from low to medium elevation mountain slopes on various parent materials.[1]
Images
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Growth form -
Growth form -
Growth form -
Young flowering heads -
Flowering head -
Flowering head
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Elliott, T.L.; Muasya, A.M. (2019). "Three new species and a new combination among Southern African Schoenus (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae)". Phytotaxa. 401: 267–275. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.401.4.4.
- ^ a b c Elliott, T.L.; Muasya, A.M. (2018). "A taxonomic revision of Schoenus compar – Schoenus pictus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae) with three new species described from South Africa". South African Journal of Botany. 114: 303–315. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2017.11.020.
- ^ Levyns, M. (1947). "Tetraria and related genera, with special reference to the flora of the Cape Peninsula". Journal of South African Botany. 13: 73–93.
- ^ 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.; Senterre, B.; Goetghebeur, P. (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.
- ^ a b c 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.