Authors

Jeremy J. Bruhl, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Karen L. Wilson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Towards a Comprehensive Survey of C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Pathways in Cyperaceae

DOI

10.5642/aliso.20072301.11

First Page

99

Last Page

148

Abstract

Members of the family Cyperaceae were surveyed by original observation and from the literature to assess the distribution of C₃ and C₄ photosynthetic pathways in the family. All 107 genera were included in the current sample, with 91 genera assessed as consistently C₃ and 11 genera as C₄. The genera Abildgaardia, Cyperus, Eleocharis, Fimbristylis, and Rhynchospora are variable for this trait. Of the total number (1474) of specific (1406) and infraspecific (68) taxa sampled, 938 taxa (63%) are C₃, 527 taxa (36%) are C₄, and nine species of Eleocharis are debatably intermediate or variable in pathway. Some data suggesting further infrageneric variation in photosynthetic pathways are discussed. The ‘‘one cell distant criterion’’ accurately predicts C₄ pathway in sedges, except in Eleocharis. Distribution and variability of photosynthetic pathways in Eleocharis are discussed. Photosynthetic pathway was found to be a useful taxonomic marker in Cyperaceae, despite variability in this trait at various taxonomic levels and the apparently multiple origin of C₄ photosynthesis within the family. A checklist of 3395 records of C₃ and C₄ sedges is presented.

Recommended Citation

Bruhl, Jeremy J. and Wilson, Karen L. (2007) "Towards a Comprehensive Survey of C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Pathways in Cyperaceae," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 23: Iss. 1, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol23/iss1/11