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

Cyperaceae - Cyperoideae - Schoeneae - Capeobolus Browning

Description :

  • Perennial, tufted
  • Culms cryptic
  • Leaves mostly basal, few cauline, equitant, pseudopetiolate, eligulate; blade flat, bifacial, lacking midrib
  • Inflorescence reduced, paniculate
  • Spikelets solitary, sessile or shortly peduncled, of 7-10 distichous glumes, proximal sterile, distal 2 fertile, the lower functionally male, uppermost bisexual
  • Perianth 3 + 3 villous outgrowths shorter than nutlet
  • Stamens 3
  • Style linear, 3-branched; base persistent as cap on fruit, pubescent
  • Nutlet elliptic or oblong, surface longitudinally 3-ridged, faintly transversely rugose distally

Nomenclature:

  • Capeobolus Browning
    • Browning & Gordon-Gray: 218 (1999)
  • Costularia C.B.Clarke in part
    • Clarke: 274 (1898)
  • Tetraria P.Beauv. in part
    • Levyns: 121 (1950)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Capeobolus brevicaulis (C.B.Clarke) Browning; southern mountains of Western Cape, reaching Humansdorp District of Eastern Cape

References:

  • BROWNING, J. & GORDON-GRAY, K.D. 1999. Studies in Cyperaceae in southern Africa. 33: a new monotypic genus, Capeobolus . South African Journal of Botany 65
  • CLARKE, C.B. 1898. Cyperaceae . Flora capensis 7
  • LEVYNS, M.R. 1950. Cyperaceae . In R.S. Adamson & T.M. Salter, Flora of the Cape Peninsula . Juta, Cape Town