Sedge (Cyperaceae) Genera of Africa and Madagascar

Book excerpt: Sedges (of the plant family Cyperaceae) can appear seemingly insignificant. On closer inspection, however, their hidden, complex and remarkable constructive design is revealed. In order to facilitate identification of the 63 genera occurring in Africa and Madagascar, this book includes, for the first time, photographs of the living sedge plants in their natural habitats and line drawings of their morphology. Additionally, photographs of small fruits, as they appear under a microscope, are included as well as full botanical descriptions, so that a detailed assessment of these plants is possible. The genera illustrated and accounted for here, carry the names that were applied at the turn of the century. Most of these names are still in use today, however, due to recent and on-going research there have been changes, not only to genera, but also to species within these genera. A list of these name changes is included so that the work is fully up to date at this time. Sedges are widely distributed in a number of diverse habitats (most often found in wetlands and on the margins of lakes, rivers and streams). This publication focuses on those genera occurring in Africa and Madagascar, however, as these plants are also represented on other continents, the taxonomic tools for identification presented here will be useful to those further afield. Beyond this, this book provides a window to the beauty of these often overlooked, but exquisite, plants.