Schoenus loreus (Nees) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl.

Elliott, T. L. & Muasya, A. M., 2020, A taxonomic revision of Schoenus cuspidatus and allies (Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae) - Part 2, South African Journal of Botany 130, pp. 327-347 : 337-338

4. Schoenus loreus (Nees) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 756 (1891).

Elynanthus loreus Nees pro parte, Linnaea 10: 188 (1835). non Linnaea 9: 298 (1834), nom. nud.

Tetraria cuspidata (Rottb.) C.B.Clarke var. lorea (Nees) C.B.Clarke in T.A. Durand and H. Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 660‒661 (1894).

Type: South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, 3325 (Port Elizabeth): ‘Steinigte Stellen der 3:e H€ ohe an die Wan Stadensriviersberg (Distr. Uitenhage)’, (— CD), Oct 1829, Ecklon 885 (S, lecto. — image!).

[Note: In his protologue of Elynanthus loreus, Nees von Esenbeck (1835a) cited two specimens: one from Constantia in Cape Town and the other from ‘Van Stadensrivier’ in the Uitenhage region. The specimen collected from Constantia is most likely a second species as the distribution of S. loreus does not extend into the Cape Peninsula; however, T.L. Elliott was not able to locate that specimen to confirm its identity.].

[Note: Although Nees von Esenbeck (1835a) does not overtly state who collected the specimen from ‘Van Stadensrivier’, we assume that it was collected by Ecklon since he was one of the few collectors in South Africa prior to 1835 ( Glen and Germishuizen, 2010) whose specimens Nees could have examined, and very few specimens have been collected from that region.].

[Note: K ukenthal € annotated a specimen at B [B 10 1043415] as T. cuspidata var. lorea and wrote that it was collected by Ecklon from ‘Van Stadensrivier’. On this same specimen sheet, K ukenthal € notes that this material is from Schlechter 10,343. Only one inflorescence has been included on this sheet, which does not correspond to that of S. loreus based on our observations. According to the collection sites given and the characters of the inflorescence, we think that this material corresponds most to that of Schlechter 10,343, which we list under S. crassus . Thus, we do not think that this collection represents type material of S. loreus .].

Caespitose, phyllopodic perennial graminoid, tall and robust ( Fig. 3D ). Culms terete, robust, relatively tall for this clade, (510 —) 627 — 819(— 1130) X 0.9 — 1.7(— 2.2) mm. Leaves basal, varying from short relative to the culm to almost the length of culm, relatively wide, 1 — 4, (135 —)262 — 553(— 729) X 0.9‒1.8 mm, straight, usually not proximally channelled so that appearing flat, margin usually serrate above sheath. Sheaths reddish-black at base but paler above, firm, longitudinally striate. Ligule firm, relatively short, (0.1 —)0.5 — 0.8 (— 1.7) mm long. In fl orescence a pseudolateral panicle, long and dense with many spikes, dark reddish-brown in colour, (45 —)55‒85 X (6 —) 10‒16(— 25) mm, proximal rachis length (10 —)17‒35(— 45) mm ( Fig. 3 ). Proximal primary in fl orescence bracts firm, apex acuminate, not channelled, not widened at base, 100‒137(— 170) mm long, exceeding length of inflorescence 1.5 times or more. Spikes aggregated into congested clusters, up to or more than 48, 6.0‒16.0(— 32.0) mm long, overlapping. Spikelets lanceolate, cuspidate, dark reddish-brown in colour, 3.7‒4.9(— 6.3) X 0.6‒1.1(— 1.5) mm, pedicellate, 2 — 7 spikelets per spike (perhaps more; difficult to count because of congestion), reddish-brown in colour ( Fig. 5D ). Proximal spikelet prophyll 1 per spikelet, well-developed, with notable, raised vein extending to mucro, (0.2‒)0.5‒0.8(— 1.4) mm long, prophyll mucro sometimes very long giving inflorescence a ‘bearded’ appearance, (0.8‒)2.8‒6.0 (— 13.8) mm long. Rachilla (0.3‒)0.8‒1.5(— 4.8) mm long. Glumes 5‒8 per spikelet, first three glumes relatively short (as in S. cuspidatus ), proximal glume 0.5‒1.0(— 1.7) mm long, subproximal glume (0.6‒) 1.0‒1.3(— 1.7) mm long, hyaline margins, upper glumes longer than basal ones, apex acute to obtuse. Glume mucros usually relatively short, proximal mucro 0.1‒1.0(— 2.2) mm long, subproximal mucro 0‒0.6(1.1) mm long. Stamens 2‒3 per floret (usually 3), anthers (1.4‒) 2.0‒3.0 mm long. Stigmas 3-branched, vestigial stigmas of second bisexual floret sometimes present. Perianth bristles absent (i.e. yet to be observed). Nutlet broad elliptic, trigonous, yellowish in colour when young but maturing darker, (1.3‒)2.1‒2.8(— 3.3) X 0.7‒1.2 mm ( Fig. 6D ). Nutlet beak relatively long, 0.2‒1.2(— 2.0) mm long, hispid to farinose.

Flowering: July to February

Distribution and ecology: The distribution of S. loreus is generally within 200 km of the south and south-eastern coasts of South Africa ( Fig. 10 ). One specimen has also been recorded from Witbank in Mpumalanga, but it is unclear if that specimen was mislabeled or if it came from that location. Schoenus loreus is a lowland species of elevations generally less than 400 m, with specimens recorded from a variety of habitats, including sandstone fynbos, thornveld, renosterveld, roadsides and grasslands. The moisture regime of this species varies from moist to dry, with most specimens having been collected from dry sites.

Diagnosis: The robust habit combined with the non-channelled, flat and open leaves of S. loreus differentiate it from other species in this group ( Figs. 3 and 4 ). Schoenus australis ( Fig. 4D ) and S. riparius ( Fig. 4G ) are also robust and stout species, but their leaves are channelled and terete above. The distribution of S. riparius differs from that of S. loreus , as the latter species is found primarily in the Eastern Cape Province and adjacent areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, whereas S. riparius is limited to wet areas of the Cape Peninsula. Habitat preferences can be used to differentiate S. loreus from S. australis , whereas S. australis usually occurs on coarse-textured soils along the south coast of South Africa, S. loreus usually prefers other types of habitats, including thornveld and grasslands.

Schoenus loreus has similar spikelets to S. cuspidatus ( Fig. 5D and F ); however, the two species differ in their growth forms and the size of their inflorescences. Schoenus cuspidatus is generally a shorter, thinner plant and has a shorter inflorescence with fewer spikes compared to S. loreus ( Figs. 3 and 4 ).

Additional collections examined

South Africa. MPUMALANGA: 2529 (Witbank): Witbank , (— CC), 13 Nov 1908, Rogers 2572a ( GRA) . EASTERN CAPE: 3129 (Port St. Johns): summit of western gate, Port St Johns, (— DA), 4 Feb 1899, Galpin 2877 (K); Port St. Johns , (— DA), 4 Jul 1939, Levyns 6910 ( BOL) ; Port St. Johns, Mt. Thesiger , (— DA), 11 Apr 1990, Bean, Viviers & Cloete 2175 ( BOL) ; Port St. Johns, Mount Thesiger, above Port St. Johns , (— DA), 4 Feb 2011, Helme 7049 ( NBG) . 3227 (Stutterheim): Mount Coke , (— CD), Nov 1892, Sim 1331 ( BOL) ; Nov 1901, Sim 1331 ( GRA) ; Amalinda, near East London, (— DD), Apr 1893, Flanagan 1786 ( GRA, K, PRE). 3324 (Steytlerville): Uitvlugt, (— CD), Jun 1923, Fourcade 2627 ( BOL [2 sheets], GRA, K, NBG); Assegai Bosch, (— CD), 1 Aug 1912, Rogers 2811 ( NBG) ; near Boplaas , to E., (— CD), 4 Aug 1960, Acocks 21,283 (K, PRE) . 3325 (Port Elizabeth): Port Elizabeth , (— DC), Dec 1895, Kemsley 248 ( GRA) ; near Port Elizabeth, (— DC), 12 May 1902, Galpin 6388 (K); Walmer , (— DC), Oct 1912, Paterson 2367 ( BOL, GRA) . 3326 (Grahamstown): Bathurst, 2 miles E. of Trappes Valley Station , (— BD), 21 Jul 1946, Acocks 12,783 ( BM, PRE) ; Albany area, near Shaw Park , (— BD), 9 Oct 2006, Verboom 1168 ( BOL) , Verboom 1169 ( BOL) ; ca. 600‒650 m N. of turn-off to Shaw Park , near fence line, (— BD), 7 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_252 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_253 ( BOL) ; ca. 2 miles N.W. of Martindale, near Grahamstown , (— DA), Oct 1955, Martin 8231 ( BOL) ; Grahamstown, Woodlands, near Southwell , (— DA), 19 Sep 1967, Acocks 23,910 ( PRE) ; near Port Alfred, (— DB), 10 Sep 1813, Burchell 3997 (K). 3327 (Peddie): 1 km N. of R72 on road to Shaw Park , ca. 10‒15 m E. of road, (— AC), 8 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_261 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_262 ( BOL) . 3424 (Humansdorp): Witte Els Bosch , (— AA), Nov 1921, Fourcade 1731 ( BOL, K); between Humansdorp and Witte Els Bosch, (— AA), 26 Aug 1948, Levyns 9150 ( BOL) ; Farm Eerste Rivier 626, Skuitbaai , (— AA), 24 Sep 2009, Jacobsen 6493 ( PRE) ; Humansdorp , (— BB), 1 Aug 1912, Rogers 2931 (K) . WESTERN CAPE: 3322 (Oudtshoorn): Mossel Bay, (— CC), Aug 1912, Rogers 4226 (K). 3323 ( Willowmore ): Natures Valley , by lagoon and settlement, (— DC), 13 Mar 1998, Browning 922 ( NU) . 3422 (Mossel Bay): near George, (— AB), 23 Sep 1814, Burchell 6033_2 (K). 3423 ( Knysna ): Noetzie , (— AA), 4 Jul 1946, Levyns 7836 ( BOL [2 sheets]); 11 Jul 1961, Acocks 21,199 (K, PRE) ; Noetzie River , near mouth W. side of river, above parking area of beach, (— AA), 22 May 1984, van Wyk, Fellingham & O’ Callaghan 69 ( NBG, PRE) ; Brenton Blue Nature Reserve , Southern Cape, in the centre of the housing development Brenton-on-sea Ext. 1, (— AA), 16 Feb 1997, Lubke 3339 ( GRA) ; E. side of road to Noetzie Castles, along Hornlee Rd. , ca. 2 km from turn-off to N2, 2 — 5 m from road, (— AA), 10 Nov 2017, Elliott & Betz TE 2016_273 ( BOL) , Elliott & Betz TE 2016_274 ( BOL) .

Figures

Fig. 3. Examples of plants from five species of the S. cuspidatus and allies group found in Southern Africa, showing the corresponding inflorescences beneath each plant: A and F—S. brunnescens; B and G—S.compactus; C and H—S.crassus; D and I—S.loreus; and E and J—S.galpinii. The black scale bar adjacent to the inflorescence in J represents 10 mm.

Fig. 5. Examples of spikelets from nine species of the S. cuspidatus and allies group found in Southern Africa:A—S. brunnescens; B—S. compactus; C—S. crassus; D—S.loreus; E—S. gal- pinii; F—S.cuspidatus; G—S.graciliculmis; H—S.riparius; and I—S.australis. The black scale bar represents 1 mm.

Fig. 6. Examples of nutlets from nine species of the S.cuspidatus and allies group found in Southern Africa:A—S. brunnescens; B—S. compactus; C—S. crassus; D—S. loreus; E—S. galpinii; F—S.cuspidatus; G—S.graciliculmis; H—S.riparius; and I—S.australis. The black scale bar represents 1 mm.

Fig. 10. Documented locations of S.loreus.

Fig. 4. Examples of plants from four species of the S.cuspidatus and allies group found in Southern Africa, showing the corresponding inflorescences beneath each plant: A and E—S. cuspidatus; B and F—S.graciliculmis; C and G—S.riparius; and D and H—S.australis. The black scale bar adjacent to the inflorescence in H represents 10 mm.