The curious and confusing taxonomic issue of Tetraria scariosa Kük. and Tetraria scariosa Levyns sp. nov. ms.

(Tony Verboom doubts the status of T. scariosa as separate-enough from T. ustulata.)

From Kükenthal. 1931. pp. 190--191 (in Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis - Fascicle 29):

100. Tetraria scariosa Kükenthal, spec. nova. Rhizoma breve. Culmus mediocriter validus 25---35 cm altus teres nodis 2 distantibus foliigeris instructus basi incrassatus. Folia basalia culmo breviora rígida perangusta canaliculiata, vagimae atrocastaneae nitidae valde reticulatim fissae. Folia culmea brevia vaginis longis atrobrunneis apicem versus subampliatis postice reticulatim fissis. Panicula spiriformis densa oblonga 3---4 cm longa. Spicae 4---5 contiguae bracteis vaginaeformibus basi dilatata plurinervosa atrobrunnea marginibus late scariosis apice in aristam longam pungentem excurrentes. Squamae ferrugineae marginibus ciliatae. Flores juveniles nondum evoluti.

Kapland: Koude Bokkeveld, Wagebooms Rivier 5500 ft. 27. I. 1897 (R. Schlechter Nr. 10171!).

Am nächsten mit T. ustulata (L.) C.B. Clarke verwandt. Die auf 1 terminale ährenförmige Rispe reduzierte Inflorescenz und vor allem die stark verbreiterten und breit weißberandeten Bracteen unterscheiden T. scariosa hinlänglich, selbst wenn reifere Exemplare in den Blütenverhältnissen keine weitere Differenz erbringen sollten.

Google Translate (accessed 2019-12-06):

Closely related to T. ustulata (L.) C.B. Clarke. The inflorescence, which is reduced to 1 terminal spiky panicle, and above all the strongly broadened and broadly white-bordered bracts, sufficiently distinguishes T. scariosa, even if more mature specimens should yield no further difference in the flowering conditions.

Ruan van Mazijk, Jonathan Drake & Samantha McCarren:

Closely related to T. ustulata (L.) C.B. Clarke. The reduced inflorescence, which is 1 terminal ear-shaped/wheat-shaped panicle, and mostly the strongly broadened and broadly white-margined bracts, sufficiently distinguishes T. scariosa, even if more mature specimens should yield no further difference in the flowering habit/ratio/conditions.

Levyns has 4--5 specimens (from the Palmiet River Mouth and Rooi Els) of what she called (using an unpublished manuscript name, it seems) T. scariosa, but these are certainly not members of the reticulate-sheathed Tetraria s.s. as we know today. Her taxa is, thus, not a valid name (being preceded by Kükenthal's use of the name). Perhaps the epithet might be valid?

Tammy L. Elliott doesn't think they are members of Schoenus either, despite the single terminal inflorescences and membranaceous bracts (without reticulate-sheaths), based on spikelet morphology. So if it's not a member of the 2 largest Cape schoenoid sedge genera (Tetraria and Schoenus), then what is it?

Sequence data and more careful study is needed.