Tricostularia
Content
Description
Perennial herbs with short rhizome.
Leaves basal, rarely 1 or 2 distant on the stem, often reduced to the sheaths;
Inflorescence paniculate, spike-like to much branched.
Stamens 3;
Distribution
Australasia, S. Asia present
Small genus (c. 5 spp.), all Australian, one species extending to S. Asia.
Notes
Allied to Schoenus and Lepidosperma; Schoenus is mainly characterized by the elongated, prominently zigzag upper internodes of the rachilla and the reduction of the upper flower in the spikelet; Lepidosperma can be recognized by the thick spongy perianth-scales under the fruit and the glabrous nuts.
The circumscription of the genus here accepted is that of BENTHAM in the Flora Australiensis. CLARKE and KÜKENTHAL restricted Tricostularia to 3 extra-Malesian spp., and removed T. undulata and T. paludosa to Cladium, Schoenus, or Costularia, which in my opinion is contrary to their natural relationships.
The circumscription of the genus here accepted is that of BENTHAM in the Flora Australiensis. CLARKE and KÜKENTHAL restricted Tricostularia to 3 extra-Malesian spp., and removed T. undulata and T. paludosa to Cladium, Schoenus, or Costularia, which in my opinion is contrary to their natural relationships.