Restionaceae - Cape reed family

Perennial, usually dioecious, rush- or sedge-like herbs. Rootstock tufted or rhizomatous, bearing dense scaly sheaths. Culms usually bearing a convolute leaf sheath; ligule usually 0. Inflorescence a spike, raceme or panicle, often different in male and female plants. Spikelets subtended by a sheath. Flowers usually unisexual. Perianth of 6 segments in 2 whorls. Male flowers: stamens 3; anthers 1-thecous. Female flowers: staminodes 0-3; ovary superior, 1-3-locular with 1 ovule per loculus; styles 1-3. Fruit a capsule or nutlet.

Comment: The Checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants (Timberlake and Mapaura, 2004) gives two species for this family in Zimbabwe, namely Restio quadratus Mast. and Restio quartziticola H.P. Linder. However, in the more recent account of the family (H.P. Linder in FZ 13(4), 2010) only Restio quartziticola (now renamed Platycaulos quartziticola) is mentioned as occurring in the Flora Zambesiaca area. Restio quadratus is a good species but is an endemic of the Western Cape. For this flora we have followed H.P. Linder's 2010 treatment and recognised only one species.

Worldwide: 41 genera and 420 species, mainly southern hemisphere and especially Australia and South Africa but with one species in Vietnam.

Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 1 taxon.