The genera of Cyperaceae of Madagascar Author Rasaminirina, Fitiavana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0162-7975 University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar Author Larridon, Isabel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0285-722X Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre, Antananarivo, Madagascar & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK i.larridon@kew.org text Plant Ecology and Evolution 2023 2023-08-29 156 3 276 310 http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.98847 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.98847 2032-3921-3-276 BC5E6BD70022518ABF185FC3C18147CE 3. Actinoschoenus Benth. (Bentham 1881: 33) Type species. Actinoschoenus filiformis (Thwaites) Benth. [= Actinoschoenus aphyllus (Vahl) Larridon] Description of the genus. Small to medium-sized, tufted, shortly rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennials. Culms scapose, smooth, tufted, more or less 4-angular, bases covered by closed leaf sheaths. Leaves ligulate if present, blade very short, almost reduced to a sheath. Primary bracts small, not very conspicuous not sheathing. Inflorescence terminal, capitate. Spikelets 2 or many. Glumes 4-7 distichous, deciduous glumes, of increasing length; rachilla internodes short, somewhat elongated between the florets. Floret(s) 1(-2), subtended by the penultimate larger glume, enclosed by the wings of the next glume, bisexual. Perianth bristles absent. Stamens 3. Style deeply 3-fid, style base distinct, thickened, deciduous. Nutlets obovoid, trigonous, more or less 3-ribbed, surface smooth to slightly tuberculate. Distribution and ecology. Actinoschoenus occurs from West-Central Tropical Africa to Zambia, Western Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka to southern China and Australia ( POWO 2022 ). It grows in open woodland on dry sandy areas ( Browning and Goetghebeur 2017 ), wetlands, swamps, sands and wet rocks, water's edge, forest, to 800 m elevation ( Chermezon 1937 ). A single species of Actinoschoenus , i.e. Actinoschoenus aphyllus (Vahl) Larridon (Fig. 15 ), occurs throughout Madagascar. Figure 15. Actinoschoenus aphyllus . All photos taken in Andrainjato, Taolagnaro District, Anosy Region by Andriambolantsoa Rasolohery (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145409565), reproduced with permission from the photographer.