New combinations in Schoenoplectus (Cyperaceae)

2 Pages·1993·1.3 MB·

by  M T Strong

New Combinations in Schoenoplectus (Cyperaceae)
Mark T. Strong
Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, 10th and Constitution Avenue, Washington,
D.C. 20560, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT. Results from a recent taxonomic treat¬ genus Bolboschoenus are significantly distinct from
ment of species of Scirpus sensu lato occurring in Schoenoplectus to warrant maintaining them in a
Virginia indicate that they are a heterogeneous group. separate genus. They argued that the one character
Three segregate genera are recognized as occurring that they recognize Schoenoplectus and Bolbos¬
in Virginia: Scirpus sensu stricto, Trichophorum, choenus as having in common (embryo morphology)
and Schoenoplectus. The transfer of four species cannot justify placing them together. My studies
to Schoenoplectus is made. These combinations are conclude that there are not only similarities between
made prior to a treatment of V irginia Scirpus sensu embryo shape, but between leaf anatomy, floral mor¬
lato forthcoming in the journal Bartonia. phology, and inflorescence. The morphological char¬
acters that are usually emphasized as distinguishing
A taxonomic study of Scirpus sensu lato (Strong, Bolboschoenus and Schoenoplectus (well-developed
1991) was recently completed for Virginia and is cauline leaves and terminal inflorescence subtended
forthcoming in the journal Bartonia (Strong, in by several involucral bracts of the former vs. usually
press). As a result of this study, four new combi¬ undeveloped leaves and pseudolateral inflorescence
nations are needed in Schoenoplectus. This note bearing a single involucral bract of the latter) are
states the taxonomic rationale and validates these not consistent within the two genera. Many species
new combinations so that they are available to other in Schoenoplectus, e.g., S. etuberculatus, S. pun-
workers. gens, S. torreyi, and S. smithii, produce well-de¬
When Scirpus was described (Linnaeus, 1753), veloped, elongate blades and typically bear more
it was heterogeneous. Since then, many of the orig¬ than a single involucral bract, although they are
inal species have been referred to other genera in sometimes reduced. The lowest involucral bract in
Cyperaceae, e.g., Eleocharis, Fimbristylis, Bul- Bolboschoenus is typically erect both at anthesis
bostylis, Cyperus, and Scleria. The remaining spe¬ and in reduced forms, appearing as a continuation
cies, and others described since Linnaeus, were of the culm. Only at maturity does the inflorescence
treated by many workers as homogeneous. This spread out and appear terminal. The Asian species
particularly applies to those species having imbricate Schoenoplectus grossus, which Goetghebeur and
floral bracts, hypogynous bristles, and achenes with Simpson have applied to Actinoscirpus, has an in¬
an undifferentiated style base. florescence that appears terminal subtended by sev¬
Embryological, anatomical, morphological, and eral involucral bracts as in Bolboschoenus, but the
cladistical evidence accumulated during the past 30 floral morphology is that of Schoenoplectus. Fur¬
years indicates that many of the species still referred thermore, another Asian species, Bolboschoenus
to Scirpus are heterogeneous (van der Veken, 1965; planiculmis, has a pseudolateral inflorescence, the
Schuyler, 1971a, b, 1972; Goetghebeur, 1986) and lower involucral bract appearing as a continuation
are better placed in segregate genera, with Scirpus of the culm as in Schoenoplectus, but the floral
sylvaticus L. designated as the type for Scirpus morphology is that of Bolboschoenus. Therefore,
sensu stricto (Wilson, 1989). because these two groups share a number of sig¬
The conclusions of my studies, based on mor¬ nificant characters, I cannot justify the separation
phological analysis as well as a review of embryo- of these plants into distinct genera.
logical, anatomical, and cladistical studies, confirm
that Scirpus sensu lato is a heterogeneous group. Schoenoplectus purshianus (Fernald) M. T.
Species occurring in Virginia comprise three seg¬ Strong, comb. nov. Basionym: Scirpus pur¬
regate genera: Trichophorum, Scirpus sensu stric¬ shianus Fernald, Rhodora 44: 479. 1942, nom.
to, and Schoenoplectus. nov. for Scirpus debilis Pursh, FI. Amer. Sept.
Goetghebeur & Simpson (1991), citing embry¬ 1: 55. 1813, non Scirpus debilis Lamarck,
ological and morphological evidence, argued that Tabl. Encycl. 1: 141. 1791. Scirpu s erect us
species of Scirpus sensu lato that are applied to the var. debilis Camus, FI. Gen. Indo-Chine 7:
Novon 3: 202-203. 1993.
Volume 3, Number 2 Strong 203
1993 New Combinations in Schoenoplectus
136. 1912. Schoenoplectus juncoides subsp. 1972. TYPE: U.S.A. Carolina: in salt marsh.
purshianus (Fernald) Sojak, Cas. Nar. Mws. Herbarium Michaux s.n. (lectotype, selected
Odd. Pnr. 141: 62. 1972. TYPE: E.S.A. by Schuyler (Ewan, 1979), P not seen).
Pennsylvania: in wet meadows. Herbarium
Muhlenberg s.n. (lectotype, as designated on Acknowledgments. My sincere appreciation is
sheet by Schuyler, PI1 not seen). extended to Alfred E. Schuyler (PH) lor sharing
Schoenoplectus fluviatilis (Torrey) M. T. Strong, knowledge of Scirpus sensu lato and providing de¬
comb. nov. Basionym: Scirpus maritimus E. tailed information on the location of types. I thank
0 ? fluviatilis Torrey, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. Dan Nicolson (US) and Galen Smith lor reviewing
New York 3: 324. 1826. Scirpus fluviatilis the manuscript, and the curators ol FARM, GH,
(Torrey) A. Cray. Manual Bot. N. I nited States: GMUF, NY, PH. APT. and WILLI for either in¬
527. 1848. Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (Torrey) formation regarding this study or the loan ol spec¬
Sojak, Cas. Nar. Mus. Odd. Pnr. 141: 62. imens.
1972. TYPE: U.S.A. Missouri: banks ol the
Missouri River, Baldwin s.n. (lectotype, se¬
Literature Cited
lected here, NY).
Schoenoplectus novae-angliae (Britton) M T. Ewan, ,1. 1979. Introduction to reprint edition ot Flora
Americae Septentrionalis, by Frederick Pursh, 1814.
Strong, comb. nov. Basionym: Scirpus novae-
.1. Cramer, Braunschweig.
angliae Britton, lllus. El. 3: 509. 1898. Scir¬ Goetghebeur, P. 1986. Genera Cyperacearum. Een
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bustus var. novae-angliae (Britton) Beetle,
- & D. A. Simpson. 1991. Critical notes on
Arner. J. Bot. 29: 82. 1942. TYPE: U.S.A. Actinoscirpus, Bolboschoenus. Hole pis, Phylloscir-
Connecticut: Fairfield, in a freshwater marsh pus and Amphiscirpus (Cyperaceae). Kew Bull. 46:
bordering creek, tidewater setting back to this 169-178.
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point, Barnes, 19 July 1896 (holotype, NV;
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Scirpus maritimus y cylindricus Torrey, Ann. Lyceum
-. 1971b. Scanning electron microscopy of
Nat. Hist. New York 3: 325. 1836. Syn. nov. Scir¬
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cylindricus (Vahl) Lamarck, Encyl. Method. Vol. 5
-. 1972. Morphological and anatomical differ¬
(suppl.): 101. 1817. Scirpus subterminalis var. cy¬
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lindricus (Torrey) T. Koyama, Canad. J. Bot. 40:
bulrushes (Cyperaceae: Scirpus). Bartonia 41; 57
930. 1962. TYPE: U.S.A. Georgia: Baldwin s.n.
60.
(holotype, PH; spikelet of type, NY).
Strong, M. T. 1991. Taxonomy of the genera Scirpus
sensu stricto, Trichophorum, and Schoenoplectus
Schoenoplectus robustus (Pursh) M. T. Strong, sensu lato (Scirpus sensu lato) in Virginia. Unpub¬
comb. nov. Basionym: Scirpus robustus Pursh, lished M.S. Thesis, George Mason University, Fair¬
fax, Virginia.
FI. Amer. Sept. 1: 56. 1816 (based on Scirpus
-. Taxonomy of the genera Scirpus sensu stricto,
maritimus macrostachyos Michaux, H.
Trichophorum, and Schoenoplectus (Scirpus sensu
Amer. 1: 32. 1803, non Scirpus macrostach- lato) in Virginia. Bartonia (in press).
yos Lamarck, Tabl. Encycl. I: 142. 1791). Veken, P. van der. 1965. Contribution a Pembryogra-
Scirpus maritimus var. robustus (Pursh) Kii- phie systematique des Cyperaceae Cyperoideae. Bull.
Jard. Bot. Etat Brux. 35: 285-354.
kenthal. Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni. Yeg. 23:
Wilson, K. L. 1989. (931) Proposal to conserve 468
200. 1926. Bolboschoenus robustus (Pursh) Scirpus L. (Cyperaceae) with Scirpus sylvaticus L.
Sojak, Cas. Nar. Mus. Odd. Pnr. 141: 63. as type. Taxon 38: 316-320.