e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1707295265631_1492948189267389" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Cal<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1707295265632_3197779228402413" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>opsis
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Restionaceae - Calopsis P.Beauv. ex Desv.

Description:

  • Plants caespitose or tangled
  • Rhizomes very short
  • Culms branching, sometimes sparsely
  • Leaf sheaths persistent, either closely convolute or somewhat spreading
  • Male inflorescence similar to female ones, paniculate with (1-)many discrete, compact spikelets; spathes relatively insignificant
  • Male spikelets: florets many; perianth compressed; perianth segments 6, outer lateral ones usually boat-shaped, villous to glabrous on midrib; anthers exserted at anthesis
  • Female inflorescence similar to male, but spikelets often somewhat larger
  • Female spikelets: bracts cartilaginous or osseous, usually somewhat longer than florets, usually uppermost 1-many fertile; perianth segments cartilaginous or bony, outer lateral perianth segments keeled, rarely winged or villous; staminodes well developed; ovary 1-locular, styles usually 3, plumose, exserted from behind bracts at anthesis
  • Fruit a soft-walled nutlet

Nomenclature:

  • Calopsis P.Beauv. ex Desv.
    • Desvaux: 44 (1828)
    • Linder: 464 (1985)
    • Linder: 251 (1991)
  • Leptocarpus R.Br.
    • Brown: 250 (1810)
    • Masters: 116 (1897)
    • Pillans: 342 (1928) in part

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa: Species ± 24, mainly Western Cape, also Northern Cape (Namaqualand) and Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal

References:

  • BROWN, R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. Johnson, London
  • DESVAUX, N.A. 1828. Observations sur quelque familles des plantes monocotylédones, d'après les manuscripts de feu le Baron Palisot de Beauvois. Annales des sciences naturelles, Paris, sér. 1, 13
  • 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