Schoenus L.

90 species in Aust. (85 endemic); all states and territories

Perennial herbs. Culms terete or obscurely 3-angular, seldom leafy. Leaves narrow, usually basal, sometimes reduced to sheathing scales. Spikelets with 2–6 flowers, in compact or spreading clusters or solitary and terminal, all perfect or uppermost sterile. Glumes distinctly distichous, 2–several lowest ones empty and often with another empty one above the fertile ones. Perianth bristles or scales up to 6 or absent. Stamens 1–6 usually 3. Style 3-fid, rarely ± thickened at the base. Nut oblong-globular, ± trigonous (Fig. 46).