193. Scheuchzeriaceae F. Rudolphi
Scheuchzeria Family
Mark A. Nienaber
Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, caulescent; turions absent. Leaves alternate, emergent, sessile; sheath with remains often persisting, auriculate; blade linear, nearly cylindric, with conspicuous round pore adaxially on leaf tip; intravaginal squamules hairs, numerous. Inflorescences terminal, bracteate racemes, not subtended by spathe; pedicels following fertilization elongating, not spiraling. Flowers bisexual; subtending bracts present; perianth present; tepals 6; stamens 6, epitepalous; anthers basifixed, distinct, dehiscing longitudinally, extrorse; pollen globose; pistils 3(--6), distinct to slightly connate at base; ovules basal-marginal, anatropous. Fruits follicles. Seeds 1--2(--3).
Genus Genera 1, species 1: colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Scheuchzeriaceae have sometimes been included in Juncaginaceae. That Scheuchzeria represents a family by itself is accepted by the majority of post-1940 workers (J. W. Thieret 1988).
SELECTED REFERENCES
Britton, N. L. 1909. Scheuchzeriaceae. In: N. L. Britton et al., eds. 1905+. North American Flora.... 47+ vols. New York. Vol. 17(1), , pp. 41--42. Cody, W. J. 1975. Scheuchzeria palustris L. (Scheuchzeriaceae) in northwestern North America. Canad. Field-Naturalist 89: 69--71. Fernald, M. L. 1923. The American variety of Scheuchzeria palustris. Rhodora 25: 177--179. Thieret, J. W. 1988. The Juncaginaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 69: 1--23.
