e-Key v3 - Mastersiella
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Restionaceae - Mastersiella Gilg-Ben.

Description :

  • Plants caespitose to more commonly forming low, tangled cushions
  • Rhizomes 0
  • Culms branching
  • Leaf sheaths tightly convolute
  • Male inflorescence of few to many small, cone-like spikelets; spathes similar to sheaths, caducous
  • Male spikelets : bracts cartilaginous, many, all fertile; perianth segments 6(3); anthers exserted at anthesis
  • Female inflorescence of 1-few large spikelets; spathes persistent
  • Female spikelets : bracts osseous, closely convolute, only 1 fertile; perianth stipitate or sessile, segments 6(3), membranous, subequal; ovary 1-locular; styles 2, free to base, plumose, longer than ovary
  • Fruit a shiny black nutlet with an elaiosome

Nomenclature:

  • Mastersiella Gilg-Ben.
    • Gilg-Benedict: 25 (1930)
    • Linder: 487 (1985)
    • Linder: 256 (1991)
  • Hypolaena R.Br.
    • Brown: 251 (1810)
    • Masters: 130 (1897)
    • Pillans: 390 (1928) in part

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species ± 3, Western Cape

References:

  • BROWN, R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae . Johnson, London
  • GILG-BENEDICT, C. 1930. Restionaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edn 2, 15a. W. Engelmann, Leipzig
  • LINDER, H.P. 1985. Conspectus of the African species of Restionaceae . Bothalia 15
  • LINDER, H.P. 1991. A review of the southern African Restionaceae . Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 13
  • MASTERS, M.T. 1897. Restiaceae . Flora capensis 7
  • PILLANS, N.S. 1928. The African genera and species of Restionaceae . Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 16