Schoenus neovillosus T.L.Elliott & Muasya

Elliott, T. L. & Muasya, A. M., 2020, A taxonomic revision of the Epischoenus group of Schoenus (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae), South African Journal of Botany 135, pp. 296-316 : 314

11. Schoenus neovillosus T.L.Elliott & Muasya , S. African J. Bot. 112: 360 (2017).

Epischoenus villosus Levyns, J. S. African Bot. 13: 56 — 58 (1947),

non Schoenus villosus R.Br. (1810) .

Type: South Africa, Western Cape Province, 3418 (Simonstown): Palmiet River Mouth , close to fresh water stream, (‒BD), 30 Jan 1947, Levyns 8150 ( BOL, holo! [ BOL_139401 ]; BOL! [ BOL_139400 ], K! [ K000244905 ], PRE! [ PRE_0099629-0 ], iso.) . [Note: Two type specimens of E. villosus are stored at BOL, the herbarium where Levyns worked. Of these, BOL_139401 has ‘Type auctoris’ written on it in pencil, whereas BOL_139400 has no such indication. Therefore, we believe that Levyns designated that specimen as the holotype for this species.].

Caespitose, perennial graminoid, aphyllopodic, partially or completely hairy ( Fig. 4F and 4L ). Culms terete with shallow ridges, (350 —)500 — 708(‒1065) £ (0.2 —)0.9‒1.3(‒1.7) mm. Leaves absent. Sheaths sometimes hairy, reddish-black, longitudinally striate, open, central vein terminating in a mucro up to several mm long, semifirm. Ligule absent. In fl orescence a pseudolateral panicle, (15 —)24‒32 (‒37) £ 3.0‒7.0(‒11.0) mm, proximal rachis length (3.0 —)7.0‒13.0(‒ 20.0) mm ( Figs. 4L and 7K ). Proximal primary in fl orescence bracts (20 —)35‒48(‒72) mm long, without lateral chartaceous extensions, ranging from flat to slightly involute, apex acute but breaking-off readily, slightly exceeding length of inflorescence, 2 or 3 primary inflorescence bracts appressed to inflorescence central axis and spikes. Spikes 2‒4, (10 —)14‒19(‒25) mm long, aggregated into clusters along rachis, partially overlapping. Spikelets linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1 — 6 spikelets per spike, (6.4 —)8.0‒9.1(‒10.6) £ (1.0 —) 1.2‒1.6(‒2.2) mm, pedicellate, colour dark reddish-brown, texture firm and opaque, partially concealed by primary inflorescence bracts, varying number of sterile glumes at spikelet base ( Fig. 8K ). Proximal spikelet prophyll long if present, (4.3 —)4.7‒5.4(‒5.7) mm, mucros absent. Rachilla (0.3‒)1.7‒3.7(‒10.2) mm long. Glumes 4‒8 per spikelet, with long hairs (especially when young), texture opaque and firm, hyaline margins sometimes evident, lower glumes often relatively long, proximal glume (1.5‒)2.5‒4.6(‒8.0) mm long, subproximal glume (1.1‒)2.6‒4.9(‒6.5) mm long, upper glumes longer than basal ones, apex acuminate to obtuse. Glume mucros often absent, proximal mucro 0‒0.3(‒1.5) mm long, subproximal mucro 0‒0.6(‒ 4.0) mm long. Stamens 1 — 4 (usually 3) per floret, often over 10 stamens per spikelet, anthers (2.1‒)2.3‒3.8(‒4.0). Stigmas 3-branched, vestigial stigmas absent (i.e. yet to be observed). Perianth bristles absent (i.e. yet to be observed). Suprafloral axis sometimes thickening and strengthening, eventually curving. Nutlet 2.9‒3.4 £ 1.1‒1.4(‒1.6) mm, elliptic, shortly stipitate, trigonous, yellowish in colour when young and turning reddish-brown with maturity; nutlet beak small, 0.1‒0.2 mm ( Fig. 10K ). ( Figs. 4 , 7 , 8 and 10 )

Flowering: September to May

Distribution and ecology: The distribution of S. neovillosus is centered in the SW mountains of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, ranging from the Riviersonderend area in the east to the Cape Peninsula in the west ( Fig. 21 ). This species has been collected from elevations ranging from near sea level to over 1800 m, and it mostly prefers to grow in moist sites.

Diagnosis: Schoenus neovillosus has hairy spikelets and often hairy culms, similar to S. crinitus , S. lucidus and also sometimes S. gracillimus . Compared to S. neovillosus , S. lucidus generally has a more congested inflorescence, with a shorter proximal rachis, inflorescence and primary inflorescence bracts ( Figs. 4K and 4L ). In contrast to the relatively dispersed spikelets of S. crinitus and S. gracillimus , the spikes of S. neovillosus form more overlapping clusters, with the primary inflorescence bracts appressed to the central axis of the inflorescence and spikes.

The inflorescence of S. selinae is similar in form to that of S. neovillosus , with the main differences being the presence of hairs on the spikelets in S. neovillosus (those of S. selinae are glabrous) and the chartaceous lateral extensions of the primary inflorescence bracts of S. selinae , which are lacking in S. neovillosus .

The specimens collected from the same location as the type (i.e. Kogelberg region) tend to be distinctly hairier compared to the other specimens examined in this study.

Additional collections examined

South Africa. WESTERN CAPE: 3318 (Cape Town): Table Mt. outskirts of marsh on plateau between Fir Tree and Maclear's Beacon , (‒ CD), 26 Feb 1940, Esterhuysen 16,810 (K, NBG); between Maclear's Beacon and Window Gorge, (‒CD), 20 Feb 1944, Levyns 7596 ( BOL) ; swamp along path on E side of Table Mt., (‒CD), 23 Apr 1950, Esterhuysen 16,927 ( BOL, K, NBG, SAM) ; Table Mountain , marshy plateau on E side between Fernwood Pk. & Maclear’ s Beacon , (‒CD), 20 Nov 1956, Esterhuysen 26,572 ( BOL, K, NBG, PRE) ; Table Mountain , (‒CD), 1 Dec 1956, Esterhuysen 26,660 ( BOL) ; Table Mountain, upper Plateau, (‒CD), 1 Dec 1956, Esterhuysen 26,665 (BOL, K); Table Mountain , Echo Valley , (‒CD), 11 Sep 2004, Verboom 735 ( BOL) ; Table Mountain National Park, along trail between Skeleton Gorge and Maclear's Beacon, c. 200 m from start of trail from end of Skeleton Gorge , (‒CD), 9 May 2018, Elliott & van Mazijk TE 2016_359 ( BOL) ; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, c. 200 — 300 m downslope of junction of Panorama and Swartboskloof trails, (‒DD), 22 Sep 2016, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_107 ( BOL) , Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_108 ( BOL) . 3319 (Worcester): Witteberg, Slanghoek Mts. , (‒CA), 13 Nov 1949, Esterhuysen 16,528 ( BOL) . 3418 (Simonstown): Orange Kloof , Table Mt. , (‒AB), 25 June 1949, Esterhuysen 15,455 ( BOL, K [2 sheets], NBG) ; Table Mountain National Park , Silvermine Nature Reserve , Silvermine West , c. 1.5 km to SW of reservoir on Noordhoek Peak trail, (‒AB), 16 Jun 2017, Elliott, Muasya & Muthaphuli TE 2016_196 ( BOL) ; Smitswinkelvlakte , (‒ AD), 22 Nov 1966, Taylor 7007a ( NBG) ; between Partridge Pt. & Millers Pt., (‒AD), 29 Dec 1969, Esterhuysen 32,370 ( BOL) ; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, between main road and Anvil Rock , (‒AD), 23 Oct 2005, Verboom 898 ( BOL) , Verboom 899 ( BOL) ; Triplets, Jonkershoek For. Res. , (‒BB), 19 May 1974, Esterhuysen 33,538 ( BOL) ; Kogelberg area , (‒BD), Apr 1931, Stokoe 2599 ( NBG) ; Palmiet River Mouth, (‒BD), 6 May 1948, Levyns 8884 ( BOL) ; Kogelberg above Platbos , plot 1, (‒BD), 28 Jul 1969, Stehle TS 247 ( NBG) ; Kogelberg Forest Reserve, Paardeberg summit ridge, (‒BD), 3 Apr 1970, Boucher 1218 ( NBG) ; Kogelberg Nature Reserve, along Palmiet River Walk , within 50 — 70 m of stream, (‒BD), 18 Nov 2016, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_154 ( BOL) ; Kogelberg Nature Reserve, along Palmiet River Walk where creek and walking path meet, (‒BD), 18 Nov 2016, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_155 ( BOL) ; Kogelberg Nature Reserve, along Palmiet River Walk where creek Louwsrivier meets small vehicle track, (‒BD), 18 Nov 2016, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_156 ( BOL) . 3419 ( Caledon ): swamp on SW slopes of Victoria Pk., Hottentots Holland Mts. , (‒AA), 15 Oct 1950, Esterhuysen 17,578 ( BOL) ; Lebanon, Catch. Ib, (‒AA), Nov 1976, KR.558 (NBG, PRE); Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve, path from Landdroskop Hut to Nuweberg Forest Station , via Stokoe's Pass , (‒ AA), 15 May 2006, Verboom 1137 ( BOL) ; Hottentots Hollands Nature Reserve, c. 1.25 km from Nuweberg parking lot, along jeep track to Landdroskop Hut , (‒AA), 18 Feb 2017, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_173 ( BOL) ; Hottentots Hollands Nature Reserve, Sphinx Trail, c. 425 — 450 m to Landdroskop Hut , (‒AA), 18 Feb 2017, Elliott & Muasya TE 2016_177 ( BOL) ; Hottentots Holland Mountains, Boesmanskloof , TMGA seep monitoring site T6_1b, (‒AA), 19 Oct 2018, Euston-Brown 5533 ( BOL) ; Riviersonderend Mountain Catchment Area , c. 3.0 — 3.5 km to W of reception towers, (‒BA), 23 Oct 2018, Elliott TE 2016_417 ( BOL) .

Figures

Fig. 4. Examples of plants from six species of the Epischoenus group found in southern Africa, showing the corresponding inflorescences beneath each plant: A and G—S.crinitus; B and H—S. adnatus; C and I—S. gracillimus; D and J—S. schonlandii; E and K—S. lucidus; and F and L—S. neovillosus. The black scale bar adjacent to the inflorescence in L represents 10 mm.

Fig. 7. Diagrammatic representations of the inflorescences of 11 species in the Epischoenus group, with spikelets illustrated in dark grey, primary inflorescence bracts in white and chartaceous (membranaceous) lateral extensions of the primary inflorescence bracts in light grey. Illustrations are not drawn to exact scale and stippling represents hairs. Inflorescences of the following species are shown: A—S. dregeanus; B—S. complanatus; C—S. quadrangularis; D—S. selinae; E—S. rigidus; F—S. crinitus; G—S. adnatus; H—S. gracillimus; I—S. schonlandii; J—S. lucidus; and K—S.neovillosus.

Fig. 8. Examples of spikelets from 11 species of the Epischoenus group found in southern Africa: A—S.dregeanus; B—S.complanatus; C—S. quadrangularis; D—S. selinae; E—S.rigidus; F—S.crinitus; G—S.adnatus; H—S.gracillimus; I—S.schonlandii; J—S.lucidus; and K—S.neovillosus. The black scale bar beside K represents 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Examples of nutlets from 11 species of the Epischoenus group found in southern Africa: A—S. dregeanus; B—S.complanatus; C—S. quadrangularis; D—S. selinae; E—S.rigidus; F—S.crinitus; G—S.adnatus; H—S.gracillimus; I—S.schonlandii; J—S.lucidus; and K—S.neovillosus. The black scale bar beside K represents 1 mm. Fully formed, mature nutlets of S.crinitus and S. neovillosus have yet to be observed.

Fig. 21. Documented locations of S.neovillosus.