Schoenoplectiella Lye

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

Morphology General Habit

Annuals or perennials, with or without leaves

Morphology Culms

Culm scapose or nearly so, with or without a node above the base

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually reduced to sheaths

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leafy and spreading or more usually stem-like and in the same direction as the stem, with or without transverse septa

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a dense apparently lateral, but really terminal, cluster of few to many spikelets, less often a more open anthela

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets with many bisexual flowers subtended by spirally arranged glumes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth bristles absent or present and of barbed or smooth needle-like bristles, or more flattened and plumose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens usually 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments often persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 2–3-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet obovoid to round, usually apiculate, smooth or ridged.

Note

Annual species may have basal flowers ± hidden in the lower leaf sheaths, with very long styles protuding from the sheaths, and nutlets larger than those of the aerial florets. Lye described Schoenoplectiella out of Schoenoplectus for those taxa that are more closely related to Eleocharis than to Schoenoplectus. These differ in mostly being annual and producing solitary female flowers in the basal leaf sheaths.