Cyperaceae

Tetraria P.Beauv.

First published in Mém. Cl. Sci. Math. Inst. Natl. France 13(2): 54 (1812 publ. 1816), nom. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tanzania to S. Africa, Borneo, New Guinea, New Caledonia.

Descriptions

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herbs.
Morphology Stem
Stems scapose or few-noded
Morphology Leaves
Leaves with conspicuous sheaths, sometimes with ligules, blades flat or more or less incurved
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence usually a narrow panicle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets several to many, 2– (rarely 1– to 4–)flowered with several–many persistent glumes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 4–12, usually distichous, occasionally somewhat spirally arranged, lower 4–9 empty.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers both typically bisexual (the lower functionally male), more rarely unisexual
Morphology General
Hypogynous bristles present or absent, when present soft, ciliate, rarely plumose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3, less often 6–8; connective produced into a crest
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas usually 3 but occasionally 4–9
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet small, trigonous (very rarely 4-angular), often crowned or beaked by the persistent style.
[FTEA]

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herbs, tufted, or with short seriate rhizomes
Morphology Culms
Culms scapose or few-noded, terete or faintly 3–4 angled
Morphology Leaves
Leaves basal or basal and cauline, about inflorescence height, grass-like, sometimes reduced to sheaths, ligule when present cylindric, dark brown, conspicuous banding culms at intervals
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence paniculate, open (interrupted) or contracted; primary bracts leaf-like, subtending inflorescence branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets several to many
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes subdistichous, of increasing length upwards, margins of proximal ones somewhat serrate, sterile; distal ones (1)2– 3(4), subtending a floret; all glumes closely enwrapped; 1–2(3) lower florets usually functionally male, upper 1–2 florets bisexual (rarely male)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth bristles (0)3–6, or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3–6, clearly crested prior to anthesis
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 3-branched, occasionally 4–9, thickened, robust
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets rounded, trigonous to 4-angled, beaked or not, surface often smooth.
Distribution
Genus of c. 55 species, predominantly South African with a few outliers at high altitudes in E. tropical Africa, Malesia and Australia.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0