Uncinia Explained

Uncinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae, known as hook-sedges in Australia[1] and as hook grasses or bastard grasses in New Zealand.[2] The genus is characterised by the presence of a long hook formed by an extension of the rachilla, which is used to attach the fruit to passing animals (epizoochory), especially birds,[3] and it is this feature which gives the genus its name, from the Latin uncinus, meaning a hook or barb.[4]

Systematics

Uncinia is a "satellite genus" of the very large genus Carex, alongside other satellites such as Cymophyllus, Kobresia, Schoenoxiphium, Vesicarex.[5] Uncinia seems to form a monophyletic group, with the most distinct species being U. kingii, a species which has sometimes been placed in the genus Carex. Similarly, Carex microglochin has sometimes been included in Uncinia, as U. microglochin.[6]

Distribution

Uncinia has a Gondwanan distribution,[7] with most species found Australia, New Zealand and South America,[1] as far north as Mexico and Jamaica.[8] Of the 50–60 species, 30 are endemic to New Zealand,[9] 6 are endemic to the east coast of Australia,[1] and 4 are endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands.[10] Smaller numbers of species are also found in New Guinea, Borneo, the Philippines, Hawaii, Tristan da Cunha, Kerguelen, Île Amsterdam, Île Saint-Paul, and the Prince Edward Islands, although none are known from the mainland of Africa.[8] This distribution suggests that the genus had an origin in Antarctica.[11]

It contains the following species:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Genus Uncinia . New South Wales Flora Online . National Herbarium of New South Wales . 2009-11-17. National Herbarium of New South Wales .
  2. Encyclopedia: Wetlands — Reeds, rushes, sedges and low growers' . Peter Johnson . . 2009.
  3. Book: https://ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/64022000/Publications/Bryson/Brysonetal08Chpt2.pdf . The Significance of Cyperaceae as Weeds . Charles T. Bryson and Richard Carter . Sedges: Uses, Diversity, and Systematics of the Cyperaceae . 15–101 . 2008 . . 978-1-930723-72-6 . Robert A. Naczi & Bruce A. Ford.
  4. Web site: Uncinia . Flora of Australia Online . . 2009-11-19.
  5. Systematics of Uncinia Pers. (Cyperaceae) . Oxford Plant Systematics . Julian Richard Starr . 4–5 . 9 . 2002.
  6. . 29 . 3 . 528–544 . 2004 . Phylogeny of the unispicate taxa in Cyperaceae Tribe Cariceae I: generic relationships and evolutionary scenarios . Julian R. Starr, Stephen A. Harris and David A. Simpson . 10.1600/0363644041744455. 86230977 .
  7. Phylogeny and evolution in Cariceae (Cyperaceae): current knowledge and future directions . . 2009 . Julian R. Starr & Bruce A. Ford . 10.1007/s12229-008-9020-x . 75 . 1 . 110–137. 38500919 .
  8. Notes on Cyperaceae: XX. The genus Uncinia in Malaysia . E. Nelmes . . 4 . 2 . 1949 . 140–145 . 10.2307/4113666 . 4113666.
  9. Book: http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_16bb6a28-3e60-4989-915d-299cb5c2ff29&fileName=Flora%202.xml#_16bb6a28-3e60-4989-915d-299cb5c2ff29 . Uncinia Pers., 1807 . Flora of New Zealand. Volume II: Indigenous Tracheophyta — Monocotyledons except Graminae . L. B. Moore & E. Edgar . 1970 . 0-477-01889-0.
  10. . 45 . 1 . 2007 . Carex and Uncinia (Cyperaceae, Cariceae) from the Juan Fernández archipelago, Chile . Gerald A. Wheeler .
  11. Facts and speculations on phylogeny in the Tribe Cariceae of the Cyperaceae . E. Nelmes . . 6 . 3 . 1951 . 427–436 . 10.2307/4118022 . 4118022.

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