Schoenoplectiella
Tufted, amphicarpous (i.e. with basal spikelets hidden amongst leaf sheaths) or non-amphicarpous annual, or rhizomatous, non-amphicarpous perennial; rhizome very short and hidden among the culm-bases, or shortly lying, or elongate and creeping, with or without small fleshy tubers. Roots fibrous. Culms nodeless or 1(-3)-noded above the base, terete to triquetrous, glabrous. Leaves mostly reduced to a mucro on a sheath, occasionally longer blade present; ligule membranous. Aerial inflorescence pseudolateral, head-like or a single spikele, rarely shortly branched; lowest involucral bract culm-like, usually erect. Spikelets mostly sessile, many-flowered. Hypogynous bristles 2–6(-10), filiform and retrorsely scabrous, or flattened and irregularly plumose, or occasionally very reduced or absent. Stamens 2 or 3. Style 2- or 3-fid. Basal (amphicarpous) spikelets present in some annual species. Nuts lenticular or trigonous, smooth or transversely rugose. Basal spikelets with longer, 3-fid styles and larger nuts.
Previously included in Schoenoplectus, which as traditionally circumscribed has been shown to be non monophyletic (Hayasaka 2012).
A cosmopolitan genus of c. 50 species. Australia: 9 species (3 species endemic), all mainland States.
Hayasaka, E. (2012). Delineation of Schoenoplectiella Lye (Cyperaceae), a Genus Newly Segregated from Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla. Journal of Japanese Botany 87: 169–186.
