A taxonomic revision of Schoenus cuspidatus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae) - Part 1 * Author Elliott, T. L. Author Barrett, R. L. Author Muasya, A. M. text South African Journal of Botany 2019 2019-03-31 121 519 535 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.11.021 journal article 10.1016/j.sajb.2018.11.021 1727-9321 10496596 4. Key to the species in the Schoenus cuspidatus group (part I) 1a. Proximal primary inflorescence bract conspicuously expanded at base; longitudinal veins at base of bract often prominent: 2a. Culms usually thick ( 0.7–1.1 mm wide) and appearing semi-succulent; plants widespread throughout South Africa (usually found within 200 km of the S. and E. coasts): …………………………………………………………… 1 . Schoenus auritus 2b. Culms thin ( 0.4–0.6 mm ) and not appearing semi-succulent; plants restricted to granitic sites on the Cape Peninsula: …………………………………………………… 2 . Schoenus graminifolius 1b. Proximal primary inflorescence bract not conspicuously expanded at base; longitudinal veins at base of bract not prominent: 3a. Spikelets linear-lanceolate ( Fig. 1 ); nutlets narrow-ellipsoidal ( Fig. 2C, D ): 4a. Plants usually> 350 mm in height; spikelets 4.5–7.5 mm in length, often reduced sexually with only male or female organs present:……………………………………………… 3 . Schoenus ligulatus 4b. Plants < 340 mm in height; spikelets mostly < 4 mm in length, bisexual spikelets always present:……………………… 4 . Schoenus exilis 3b. Spikelets lanceolate or ovate ( Fig. 1 ); nutlets broad-ellipsoidal ( Fig. 2 ): 5a. Spikelets lanceolate: Fig. 1. Spikelet variation in the Schoenus cuspidatus and allies group found in southern Africa: A— S. cuspidatus (lanceolate spikelet), B— S. crassus (lanceolate spikelet), C— S. auritus (lanceolate spikelet), D— S. graminifolius (lanceolate spikelet), E— S. calceolus (ovate spikelet) and F— S. ligulatus (linear-lanceolate spikelet). The black scale bar next to the spikelets represents 1 mm. 6a. Glume margins with reddish-purple streaks adjacent to the hyaline margins ( Fig. 3E, F ): 7a: Older leaves usually curled; membranaceous sheaths with reddish-purple streaks:……………………………… 5. Schoenus bolusii 7b. Older leaves usually straight; sheaths firm (i.e. not membranaceous) and solid red to brown in colour: ……………………………………………..…… 6. Schoenus submarginalis 6b. Glume margins without reddish-purple streaks adjacent to the hyaline margins: 8a. Basal leaves reduced in length (usually a third to a quarter of culm length, never over half of culm length); glumes usually dark-reddish brown in colour; plants of mountainous regions of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces:……….…….…….......……… 7. Schoenus crassiculmis 8b. Basal leaves well-developed in length (often over half of culm length); glumes medium brown to light reddish-brown in colour; plants endemic to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal or Agulhas Plains region of South Africa ): 9a. Spikelets <4.0 mm in length; glumes often thin and membranaceous ( Fig. 4N ); plants endemic to quartz patches on shale-derived soils in the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa :…..…...……………………....….... 8. Schoenus quartziticus 9b. Spikelets usually>4.0 mm in length; glumes firm ( Fig. 4O ); plants endemic to grasslands and wetlands of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa ):……...…. 9. Schoenus limosus 5b. Spikelets ovate ( Fig. 1 ): 10a. Sheaths loose; leaves appearing flat as they are usually not-channelled above ligule; plants endemic to mountainous regions of the southern Western Cape Province of South Africa : ……………………………………...….………... 10. Schoenus purpurascens 10b. Sheaths firm; leaves appearing terete as they are channelled above ligule; plants endemic to the Agulhas Plains region of South Africa : 11a. Spikelets with firm prophylls that often shine; prophyll mucros>3.0 mm; base of culms terete and with sheath not holding several leaf bases together:………………………………….…. 11. Schoenus prophyllus 11b. Spikelets with prophylls that are not firm and shining; prophyll mucros < 2.4 mm long; base of culm flattened and with sheath holding several leaf bases together ( Fig. 5 ):……………….. 12 . Schoenus calceolus