Plants generally tangled, forming cushions, rarely monoecious, or florets bisexual
Rhizomes 0
Culms branching, sometimes flattened or striate
Leaf sheaths closely convolute, apex often with a long, hair-like mucro
Male inflorescence of several spicate spikelets
Male spikelets with several bracts fertile; anthers exserted at anthesis
Female inflorescence similar to male, but with fewer spikelets, of 1-several spicate spikelets; spathes similar to sheaths
Female spikelets similar to male ones, bracts chartaceous to cartilaginous, with 1 fertile; perianth segments membranous, subequal; ovary 1-locular; styles 2
Fruit a soft-walled nutlet
Nomenclature:
Anthochortus Nees
Nees ab Esenbeck: 451 (1836)
Masters: 148 (1897)
Pillans: 432 (1928)
Linder: 484 (1985)
Linder: 256 (1991)
Hypolaena R.Br.
Brown: 251 (1810) in part
Phyllocomos Mast.
Masters: 19 (1900)
Pillans: 433 (1928)
Distribution & Notes:
Southern Africa: Species ± 7, Western Cape
References:
BROWN, R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. Johnson, London
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
MASTERS, M.T. 1900. Restionaceae novae capenses herbarii Berolinensis, imprimis Schlechterianae. Botanische Jahrbücher 29, Beiblatt 66
NEES AB ESENBECK, C.G. 1836. In Lindley, J. A natural system of botany, edn 2. Longmans, London
PILLANS, N.S. 1928. The African genera and species of Restionaceae. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 16
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