Schoenus schonlandii
Schoenus schonlandii is a species of sedge endemic to locations near the southern coast of South Africa. Description. The flowering heads (inflorescences) of "S. schonlandii" resemble those of "Schoenus adnatus", "Schoenus crinitus" and "Schoenus gracillimus" in form, as these species all have relatively few spikelets scattered throughout a panicle. "Schoenus crinitus" is more hairy than "S. schonlandii", and it does not have spikelet receptacles that are adnate to the basal glumes (bracts), such as in "S. adnatus". Compaed to "S. gracillimus", "S. schonlandii" grows farther to the east in South Africa, and it does not have the pendulous  (hanging) spikelets that are often found in "S. gracillimus". "Schoenus rigidus" has inflorescences that resemble those of "S. schonlandii", but the primary inflorescence bracts of "S. schonlandii" do not have the paper-like extensions that are found in "S. rigidus". The southern African "Schoenus" have a tendency to form hybrids with each other based on preliminary evidence, which partially explains why they can be difficult to identify. Since little is known about "S. schonlandii" because of a lack of collections and observations, it is unclear whether it forms hybrids with other southern African "Schoenus" species. Taxonomy. "Schoenus schonlandii" is a  species in family Cyperaceae, tribe Schoeneae, which is a clade that includes genera such as "Costularia", "Gahnia", "Lepidosperma", "Oreobolus" and "Tetraria". Other species in the "Epischoenus" group of southern African "Schoenus" are likely to be the most closely-related species to "S. schonlandii" based on morphological similarities among species. Species from the southern African "Schoenus" were once included in the genus "Tetraria"; however, both molecular and morphological evidence suggests that the two genera are evolutionary distinct. To ensure that this group of sedges is monophyletic (i.e. the genus only has closely related species), the southern African "Tetraria" were transferred into  Schoenus. The southern African "Schoenus" can be distinguished from "Tetraria" species in the field by their lack of stem leaves and the absence of reticulate sheaths at the bases of the flowering stems. Distribution and habitat. The recorded distribution of "Schoenus schonlandii" ranges from the Zuurberg area in the east to the George area in the west, generally near the southern coast of South Africa. Collections of this species have been made from dry slopes, ridges and bushy places from elevations near 100 m to nearly 1700.