Scheuchzeriaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Scheuchzeriaceae F. Rudolphi

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): scheuchzeria family

*Number of genera/species: 1/1

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit a folliclefollicle:
a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture, derived from a single, superior, simple ovary; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa
, simple or aggregateaggregate:
fruit formed from a single flower with carpels several and distinct
(carpels radiating at maturity), 4–10 mm long, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, lens-shapedlens-shaped:
2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces
or tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, beakbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
curved, with few seeds. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
brown, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
.

Seeds ellipsoidellipsoid:
3D shape—elliptic
, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, or oblongoblong:
2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
, 3–5 mm long, with conspicuous raphaeraphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
along the entire length of the seed.

Embryo well developed, linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, straight, fills seed coat.

Endosperm absent.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	folliclefollicle: a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture, derived from a single, superior, simple ovary; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa , simple or aggregateaggregate: fruit formed from a single flower with carpels several and distinct
Size range	4–10 mm long
Shape(s)	ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate
Texture	leatheryleathery: texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
Color(s)	brown
Unique features	Brown folliclesfollicle: a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture, derived from a single, superior, simple ovary; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa , simple or aggregateaggregate: fruit formed from a single flower with carpels several and distinct , with curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart beaks.
Seed
Size range	3–5 mm long
Shape(s)	ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
Surface relief	smooth
Color(s)	brown, black
Unique features	Usually oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , black or brown, smooth seeds with well-developed embryo that fills seed coat.
Other
Embryo	well developed, linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , straight, fills seed coat
Nutritive tissue	endosperm absent

Distribution

North temperate regions.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+:
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. Flora of North America Association, New York and Oxford. Accessed January-March 2024. URL: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org.; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Zhengyi et al. 2004+Zhengyi et al. 2004+:
Zhengyi W, Raven PH, and Deyuan H. 2004+. Flora of China [online]. 25 vols. Science Press, Beijing China & Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis USA. Accessed January–March 2024. http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.