A taxonomic revision of Schoenus compar - Schoenus pictus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae) with three new species described from South Africa * Author Elliott, T. L. Author Muasya, A. M. text South African Journal of Botany 2018 2018-01-31 114 303 315 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.11.020 journal article 10.1016/j.sajb.2017.11.020 1727-9321 10496511 2. Schoenus arenicolus T.L.Elliott & Muasya in S. African J. Bot. 112: 359 (2017), non Schoenus brachyphyllus J.M.Black (1929) ; Tetraria brachyphylla Levyns, J. S. African Bot. 13: 90 (1947). Type : South Africa , Western Cape Province , 3418 (Simonstown); slopes of Kapitein's Peak, Hout Bay, (–AB), 20 Oct 1946 , Levyns 8093 (BOL, holo! [BOL139415]; BOL! [BOL139413, BOL139414], K!, PRE!, SAM - image!, iso.) Tetraria sylvatica var. pseudocuspidata Kük, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni. Veg. 29: 188 (1931). Type : South Africa , Western Cape Province , 3419 (Caledon); ‘in collibus pone Rhenosterkopp’, (–DD), 28 Apr 1897 , Schlechter 10,570 (PRE, lecto.!, here designated; BM!, GRA!, K!, S - image!, P[P00461872, P00461873, P00461874] - image!, WAG[WAG0389326, WAG0108275] - image!, L - image!, isolecto.) Caespitose, phyllopodic perennial graminoid. Often partly or almost entirely viscous, especially on sheaths and inflorescences. Culms terete, (206–)335–575( − 688) × 0.6–1.0( − 1.5) mm. Leaves basal, 2–5, short, (10.0–)25.0–68.0( − 134.0) × 0.2–0.7( − 1.2) mm, flat, usually not proximally channelled, straight or less often not, margin usually serrate above sheath. Sheaths often reddish-brown colour, smooth, often viscous, tightly clasping culm, longitudinally striate. Ligule membranaceous, 2-lobed, (1.9–)3.5–6.0( − 8.3) mm. In fl orescence a narrow panicle, 9.5–25.5( − 46.0) × (2.5–)4.0–6.0( − 10.0) mm, sometimes viscous, proximal rachis length 5.5–11.5( − 16.0) mm. Proximal primary in fl orescence bracts firm, non-sheathing, 25–77( − 173) mm long, often exceeding length of inflorescence several times, can have small membranaceous extensions at base. Spikes few, 1–5, 7.0–12.0( − 22.0) mm long. Spikelets 5.7–8.2( − 10.0) × 1.0–2.4( − 3.8) mm, usually paired with one sessile and the other with a short pedicel, oblong to lanceolate, 1–3 spikelets/spike. Rachilla 0.2–2.0( − 4.9) mm long. Glumes (1–)3–5 per spikelet, proximal glume (1.6–)2.6–3.2( − 3.6) mm long, subproximal glume 2.4–3.6( − 4.6) mm long, thick, firm, often shiny, distichous, more or less 2- ranked, reddish-brown, sometimes with a narrow scarious margin, upper glumes longer in length, prophylls with notable, raised vein extending to mucro. Mucros well-developed, proximal mucro length (0.1–)0.8–1.4( − 3.0) mm, subproximal mucro length (0.1–)0.5–1.0( − 2.2) mm. Stamens 3( − 9) per floret, anthers 3.3–4.7 mm long. Stigmas (2–)3-branched. Perianth bristles 0. Nutlet smooth below, broad elliptic, slightly trigonous, 3.1–4.9( − 5.8) × 1.5–2.4 mm . Nutlet beak conical, almost smooth, continuous with the lower part of nutlet, with faint longitudinal furrows, (0.5–)1.6–2.0( − 2.6) mm long. ( Figs. 1 and 2 ). Flowering: September to December Distribution and ecology: the distribution of S. arenicolus is mostly near the southwestern coast of South Africa , ranging from the Cape Peninsula in the west to the Knysna area in the east ( Fig. 4 ). This species generally grows on well-drained sandy sites among fynbos vegetation at low elevations (sea level to approximately 185 m ). Diagnosis: Schoenus arenicolus can be distinguished from most other species in this group by its reddish-brown leaf sheaths and relatively narrow inflorescences, which often have only three to six spikelets. It is a similar species to S. compar , from which it can be differentiated by its shorter leaves and reddish-brown leaf sheaths as opposed to the ivory sheaths of S. compar . Furthermore, S. arenicolus has much fewer spikes and spikelets, as well as nutlet beaks that are continuous with the nutlet body and smoother compared to those of S. compar . Additional collections examined South Africa . WESTERN CAPE : 3318 ( Cape Town): Near the Stellenbosch Division, boundary on the Klipfontein Rd., (–DC), 19 Dec 1962 , Esterhuysen 29,966 (BOL, K); Klipfontein Road near Duinendal, (–DC), 12 Sep 1943 , Levyns 7588 (BOL); Stikland, Cape Flats, dunes near power station, (–DC), 30 Aug 1979 , Boucher 4505 (NBG); Cape Flats Nature Reserve – Bellville, University of Cape Town, (–DC), 27 Oct 1978 , Low 740 (NBG). 3418 (Simonstown): Sandy flats between Fish Hoek and Noord Hoek, (–AB), Sep 1921 , Pillans 4866 (K); Headland at Witsand, (–AB), Jan 1923 , Pillans 4777 (K); N of Wildevoëlvlei, (–AB), 24 Nov 1983 , O'Callaghan 707 (NBG); Platboom road, Cape Point Reserve, (–AD), 26 Sep 1978 , Esterhuysen 35,034a (BOL); The Meadows Cape Point, (–AD), 7 Dec 1965 , Taylor 6620 (NU, PRE); dune beyond Gifkommetjie turn-off, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, (–AD), 7 Sep 1972 , Taylor 8180 (NBG); Phillipi - Mitchell's plain, (–BA), 23 Aug 1998 , Low PM 25 (GRA); Swartklip Road, (–BA), 9 Aug 1991 , Berry 18 (NBG); Betty's Bay, Hangklip Estates, (–BD), 7 Feb 1944 , Levyns 7668 (BOL); Hangklip Subregion, Blesberg lower slopes along vehicle track, (–BD), 4 Mar 2001 , Joubert 435 (NBG); Buffels River mouth, Pringle Bay, (–BD), 17 Nov 1971 , Boucher 1743 (NBG). 3419 (Caledon): Wortelgat (Dadelkom), (–AD), 28 Sep 1988 , B ӧsenberg & Rutherford 412 (NBG); Hermanus, 3 km SE of Gansbaai, Suikerbosrand, (–CB), 11 May 2005 , Helme 3475 (NBG);Groot Hagelkraal, (–DA), 8 Mar 2012 , Muasya 6477 (BOL); Buffeljacht farm, south of Buffeljagsberg, (–DA), 12 Mar 1979 , Thompson 3962 (NBG, PRE); Rattle River Mouth, ± 8 km E of ‘Die Dam’, E side of mouth, c. 800 m from coast; (–DC), 7 Jun 1984 , O'Callaghan, Fellingham & van Wyk 459 (NBG). 3420 (Bredasdorp): De Hoop Nature Reserve, (–AD), 11 Apr 1957 , Levyns 10,706 (BOL [2 sheets]); De Hoop, Potberg Nature Reserve, Potberg farm, 2 km from coast along track to coast, (–BC), 9 Jul 1978 , Burgers 1076 (K, NBG, PRE); Bredasdorp, Struisbaai, 2 km NW of Molshoop, (–CA), 28 Apr 2003 , Helme 2668 (NBG); Agulhas, (–CC), 10 Apr 1948 , Levyns 8821 (BM, BOL). 3421 (Riversdale): Brandfontein, (–AB), 13 Oct 1951 , Esterhuysen 18,993 (BOL); 2 km from Duivenhoks river mouth, W side, (–BD), 28 May 1984 , O'Callaghan, van Wyk & Fellingham 394 (NBG). 3422 (Mossel Bay): Goukamma Nature Reserve, (–BB), without date, without collector 163 (K). 3423 (Knysna): Robberg, Plettenberg Bay, (–AB), 25 Oct 1955 , Esterhuysen 25,009 (BOL, K); Plettenbergbaai, Robberg, (–AB), Apr 1975 , Viljoen 105 (PRE).