Schoenus limosus T.L.Elliott & Muasya, 2019

Elliott, T. L., Barrett, R. L. & Muasya, A. M., 2019, A taxonomic revision of Schoenus cuspidatus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae) - Part 1 *, South African Journal of Botany 121, pp. 519-535 : 532

9. Schoenus limosus T.L.Elliott & Muasya , sp. nov.

Type: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, 3030 (Port Shepstone): Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, c. 400–450 m to S.S.W. of Beacon Hill entrance, c. 100 m to W. of Raspalia Stream and c. 50 m from fenceline (–CC), 3 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE2016_240 ( BOL!, holo., MT!, NBG!, iso.).

Caespitose, phyllopodic perennial graminoid. Culms terete, slender, base dark red to black in colour, (250–)360–650(—785) × 0.3–1.4 mm. Leaves basal, 1–6, (14–)116–273(—470) × 0.2–0.5(—1.0) mm, mostly straight, usually proximally channelled, margin usually serrate above sheath. Sheaths firm, longitudinally striate. Ligule firm, 0.2–1.6 mm long. In fl orescence a pseudolateral panicle, 17–34(—46) × 4–13 mm, proximal rachis length 4–20 mm. Proximal primary in fl orescence bracts slender, mostly flat, apex acute to acuminate, never widened at base, (30–)49–77(—107) mm long, exceeding length of inflorescence up to several times, without notable longitudinal veins. Proximal and subproximal primary inflorescence bracts never with membranaceous extensions at base. Spikes 3–24, 7.0–9.0(—27.0) mm long, overlapping. Spikelets lanceolate, 3.6–5.0(—6.3) × 0.6–1.4 mm, pedicellate, 2–8 spikelets per spike, often medium brown in colour. Proximal spikelet prophyll 1 per spikelet, with a notable raised vein extending to mucro, 0.5–1.4(—2.6) mm long, prophyll mucro length variable, (0.4–)2.2–3.4(—6.2) mm long. Rachilla 0.4–2.2 mm long. Glumes medium brown in colour with narrow hyaline margin, 3–6 per spikelet, proximal glume 1.0– 2.8 mm long, subproximal glume 1.1–3.4 mm long, upper glumes longer than basal ones, apex acute to acuminate. Glume mucros varying in length, proximal mucro 0.2–2.4 mm long, subproximal mucro 0.1–0.8(—2.2) mm long, lower glumes combined with mucros often over half length of spikelet. Stamens (2–)3 per floret, anthers 1.4–3.3 mm long. Stigmas (2)3-branched, vestigial stigmas of second bisexual floret not observed. Perianth bristles about half length of spikelet when present. Nutlet broad elliptic, trigonous, yellowish in colour, beak hispid, observed but no measurements taken ( Figs. 2 and 4 ).

Flowering: October–November

Distribution and ecology: The distribution of Schoenus limosus ranges from KwaZulu-Natal (including near St. Lucia), in the N.E. to the Eastern Cape Province (the Amathole Mountains region) in the S.W. ( Fig. 18 ). This species often occurs on damp sites in grasslands, but it has also been recorded on sandier, drier sites. Schoenus limosus has been collected from a wide breadth of elevations, ranging from near sea level to approximately 1500 m.

Diagnosis: Schoenus limosus is a relatively tall species for this group, with dark-red to black culm bases, lanceolate spikelets ( Fig. 4O ) usually longer than 4.0 mm and medium brown coloured glumes that are usually over half the length of the spikelet (including mucros). Other species in this group usually have reddish-brown to brown culm bases that are not as dark as those of S. limosus . Schoneus auritus also has lanceolate spikelets over 4.0 mm long, as well as glumes and mucros usually over half the spikelet length; however, that species has membranaceous sheaths and ligules, which is a character not present in S. limosus . Furthermore, the proximal primary inflorescence bracts of S. limosus are never widened at the base like in S. auritus .

Additional collections examined

South Africa. KWAZULU-NATAL: 2831 (Nkandla): Ngoye Forest Reserve , (–DC), 2 Feb 1964, Huntley 902 ( NU, PRE) . 2832 (Mtubatuba): Zululand, Hlabisa district , W. of Charter's Creek , (–AB), 24 Nov 1945, Ward 2761 ( NU [2 sheets]); Lake St. Lucia, eastern shores; (–AB), 17 Sep 1973, Taylor 65 ( NU [2 sheets]); Hlabisa Dukuduku (E.-most corner V. 175), (–AD), 20 Nov 1964, Ward 5064 ( NU, PRE) ; Hlabisa dist., Dukuduku farm 175, (–AD), 20 Nov 1964, Strey 5488 (K, NU, PRE) ; Hlabisa dist., St. Lucia Estuary park, E. of Vidal road, (–AD), 23 Nov 1977, Pooley 1968 ( NU) ; S. of Lake St. Lucia, Dukuduku State Forest , (– AD), 9 Dec 1989, Hobson 329 ( GRA) ; N. Coast, Lake Nhlabane , N. lake, W. shores, (–CB), 17 Sep 1991, Ward & Begg 11,352 ( NU) ; N. Coast, Lake Nhlabane area N.E. of N. lake: E. side of drowned Nhlabane River , near main lake, (–CB), 4 Jan 1992, Ward & Rajh 11,619 ( NU, PRE) . 2830 (Dundee): Clairmont , (–DD), 22 Aug 1893, Schlechter 3134 ( GRA [2 sheets], K) . 3030 (Port Shepstone): Umzimto dist., Pennington , S. coast, streamlet and grassland below Liebenberg's cottage, (–BC), 5 Jan 1969, Gordon-Gray 6216 ( NU) ; Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve , (– BC), 15 Mar 1986, Ward 9834 ( NU) ; Port Edward-Izingolweni Road , (– CC), Jan 1951, Huntley 785 ( NU, PRE) ; Umtamvuna Nature Reserve , Protea Point , (–CC), 7 Apr 1984, Abbott 1900 ( PCE) ; Port Shepstone, Umtamvuna , (–CC), 23 Mar 1991, Browning 371 ( NU) , Browning 378 ( NU) ; Ugu District municipality, Port Edward district, Umtamvuna N R, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife , (–CC), 13 Apr 2017, Grieve 2371 ( PCE) ; Umtamvuna Nature Reserve , c. 400–450 m to S.S. W of Beacon Hill entrance, (–CC), 2 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_240 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_241 ( BOL) . 3130 (Port Edward): Port Edward , (–AA), 19 Oct 1969, Ward 6648 ( NU) ; above Umtamvuna River near P. Edward , (–AA), 7 Nov 1974, Nicholson 1515 ( PRE) ; 2 km from Mzamba to Port Edward , (–AA), 25 Oct 1975, Stirton 5626 (K, PRE) ; Port Edward, Clearwater , (–AA), Feb 1982, Abbott 229 ( PRE) ; 2 Oct 1982, Abbott 299 ( PCE) ; Umtamvuna Nature Reserve , above Raspalia stream , (–AA), 25 Nov 2000, Abbott 7797 ( PRE) ; Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, Western Heights , (–AA), 5 Sep 2005, Abbott 8472 ( PCE) ; Port Edward area, the Red Desert , c. 275–300 m from main gate, (–AA), 3 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_242 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_243 ( BOL) ; Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, c 700–750 m S.S.E. of Clearwater Gorge View Deck , (– AA), 5 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_246 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_247 ( BOL) . EASTERN CAPE: 3129 (Port St. Johns): Transkei, Port St. Johns , Cutweni , (–BD), 13 Nov 1970, Strey 10,215 (K, PRE) ; Transkei, Mkambati Nature Reserve, near mouth Mkambati River , (– BD), 10 Dec 1986, Smook 6147A ( PRE [2 sheets]) . 3226 (Fort Beaufort): Gaika's Kop , (–DB), 25 Nov 1994, Sonnenberg 325 ( NU) ; Hogsback, Siberia, the region half way to Giakas Kop , looking from Tore Doone , (–DB), 26 Nov 1994, Sonnenberg 346 ( GRA, NU) . 3227 (Stutterheim): King Williamstown; Amatola Mts , (–CA), Apr 2005, De Wit 1983 ( WAG) ; King Williams Town, Amatola Mts, Cata Peak ridge, (–CA), Dec 1925, Dyer 345 ( GRA) . 3228 (Butterworth): Pastures near Kei Mouth , (–CB), Aug 1891, Flanagan 926 ( BOL, GRA) .

Figures

Fig.2. Examples of nutlets from 11 species of the Schoenus cuspidatus and allies group found in southern Africa:A—S.auritus; B—S.graminifolius; C—S.ligulatus; D—S.exilis; E—S.bolusii; F— S.submarginalis; G—S.crassiculmis; H—S.quartziticus; I—S.limosus; J—S.purpurascens; and K—S.calceolus (immature).The black scale bar represents 1 mm.The mature fruits of S.calceolus and S.prophyllus are unknown.

Fig.4. Examples of plants from six species of the Schoenus cuspidatus andallies group found in southern Africa,showing the corresponding inflorescences and spikelets beneath each plant: A,G and M—S.crassiculmis; B,H and N—S.quartziticus, C,I andO—S.limosus; D,J,and P—S.purpurascens; E,K andQ—S.prophyllus; and F,L and R—S.calceolus. The black scale bar adjacent to the inflorescences in G—L represents 10 mm, while the scale bars adjacent to the spikelets in M—R represent 1 mm.

Fig. 18. Documented locations of Schoenus limosus.