Schoenus schonlandii

Schoenus schonlandii is a species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae, which is a clade that includes genera such as Costularia, Gahnia, Lepidosperma, Oreobolus and Tetraria.^[1][3][4] Other species in the Epischoenus group of southern African Schoenus are likely to be the most closely related species to S. schonlandii based on morphological similarities among species.^[1]

Species from the southern African Schoenus were once included in the genus Tetraria; however, both molecular and morphological evidence suggests that the two genera are evolutionary distinct.^[5] To ensure that this group of sedges is monophyletic (i.e. the genus only has closely related species), the southern African Tetraria were transferred into Schoenus.^[5] The southern African Schoenus can be distinguished from Tetraria species in the field by their lack of stem leaves and the absence of reticulate sheaths at the bases of the flowering stems.^[5]

The recorded distribution of Schoenus schonlandii ranges from the Zuurberg area in the east to the George area in the west, generally near the southern coast of South Africa.^[1] Collections of this species have been made from dry slopes, ridges and bushy places from elevations near 100 m to nearly 1700.^[1]