Scheuchzeria

Taxobox
name = "Scheuchzeria palustris"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Stem with seeds
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Alismatales
familia = Scheuchzeriaceae
familia_authority = F.Rudolphi
genus = "Scheuchzeria"
genus_authority = L.
species = "S. palustris"
binomial = "Scheuchzeria palustris"
binomial_authority = L.

"Scheuchzeria palustris" (Rannoch-rush or Scheuchzeria), is a flowering plant, the only species in the genus "Scheuchzeria", itself the only genus in the family Scheuchzeriaceae. In the APG II system this is placed in the order Alismatales of the monocots.L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/scheuchz.htm Scheuchzeriaceae] ]

It is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where it grows in wet "Sphagnum" peat bogs. It grows to 10-40 cm tall, with narrow linear leaves with a basal sheath. The flowers are greenish-yellow, 4-6 mm diameter, with six tepals.Flora of NW Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=4175 "Scheuchzeria palustris"] ] Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220012103 "Scheuchzeria palustris"] ] Jepson Flora Project: [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?9380,9381,0,9382 "Scheuchzeria palustris"] ]

There are two subspecies, not considered distinct by all authorities:USDA Plants Profile: [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SCPAA3 "Scheuchzeria palustris"] ]
*"Scheuchzeria palustris" subsp. "palustris". Northern and eastern Europe, northern Asia.
*"Scheuchzeria palustris" subsp. "americana" (Fernald) Hultén. Northern North America.

Etymology

The genus is named after Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, a Swiss naturalist, and his brother, Johann Kaspar Scheuchzer.Helmut Genaust (1983): Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen, 2. Auflage. Birkhäuser Verlag - ISBN 3-7643-1399-4] The species name is from the Latin for a swamp.

The English name refers to its occurrence on Rannoch Moor in central Scotland, the first site in Great Britain the species was known from, and only one where it currently occurs; it is extinct at a few other wetland sites further south in Britain.Joint Nature Conservation Committee [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/SAC.asp?EUCode=UK0012870 Rannoch Moor] ] Wildassociates: [http://www.whildassociates.co.uk/BSBI/TPDB/Scheuchzeria/scheuchzeria.html "Scheuchzeria"] ]

References