Uncinia

Uncinia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Tribe:	Cariceae
Genus:	Uncinia Pers.
Type species
Uncinia australis Pers.[1]
Synonyms [2]
Agistron Raf.

Uncinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae, known as hook-sedges in Australia^[3] and as hook grasses or bastard grasses in New Zealand.^[4] The genus is characterised by the presence of a long hook formed by an extension of the rachilla,^[5] which is used to attach the fruit to passing animals (epizoochory), especially birds,^[6] and it is this feature which gives the genus its name, from the Latin uncinus, meaning a hook or barb.^[7]

Systematics

Uncinia is a "satellite genus" of the very large genus Carex, alongside other satellites such as Cymophyllus, Kobresia, Schoenoxiphium, Vesicarex.^[8] Uncinia seems to form a monophyletic group, with the most distinct species being U. kingii, a species which has sometimes been placed in the genus Carex.^[5] Similarly, Carex microglochin has sometimes been included in Uncinia, as U. microglochin.^[9]

Distribution

Uncinia has a Gondwanan distribution,^[5] with most species found Australia, New Zealand and South America,^[3] as far north as Mexico and Jamaica.^[10] Of the 50–60 species, 30 are endemic to New Zealand,^[11] 6 are endemic to the east coast of Australia,^[3] and 4 are endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands.^[12] Smaller numbers of species are also found in New Guinea, Borneo, the Philippines, Hawaii, Tristan da Cunha, Kerguelen, Île Amsterdam, Île Saint-Paul, and the Prince Edward Islands, although none are known from the mainland of Africa.^[10] This distribution suggests that the genus had an origin in Antarctica.^[13]

It contains the following species:

References