Schoenus triticoides
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| Schoenus triticoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Wheat Veldrush | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Schoenus |
| Species: | S. triticoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Schoenus triticoides T.L.Elliott & Muasya | |
 | |
| Documented collection localities in South Africa | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Schoenus triticoides is a species of sedge endemic to the mountains of southern South Africa.
Schoenus triticoides is a species with ivory coloured culm bases and leaf sheaths, which are open and membranaceous.[1] The inflorescence of this species is a relatively long and straw coloured spike-like panicle that somewhat resembles the flowering heads of wheat.[1] The primary inflorescence bracts of this species have membranaceous extensions (i.e. auricles) that are expanded at their base.[1]
Schoenus triticoides most resembles Schoenus aureus[2] vegetatively, but the inflorescence of S. triticoides is longer than the more compact panicles of S. aureus.[1] Another difference is that the veins on the primary inflorescence bracts of S. triticoides are more pronounced compared to the more inconspicuous veins of S. aureus.[1]
Plants in the southern African Schoenus clade are very difficult to identify, which is similar to other sedges. It appears that part of this problem is caused by the tendency of the southern African Schoenus to form hybrids with each other.[3] It is not clear whether S. triticoides forms hybrids with other southern African Schoenus species, but if it does, it would most likely hybridize with species in the Schoenus compar – Schoenus pictus and allies group.[2]
Spikelet (black scale bar represents 1 mm)
Spikelet (black scale bar represents 1 mm)
