Elegia capensis

Elegia capensis
At Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Restionaceae
Genus: Elegia
Species:
E. capensis
Binomial name
Elegia capensis
Synonyms[2]
  • Elegia verticillaris (L.f.) Kunth
  • Restio verticillaris L.f.
  • Restio verticillatus Spreng.

Elegia capensis, called the horsetail restio, or bergbamboes is a species of grass‑like flowering plant in the genus Elegia, native to the Fynbos region of the Cape Provinces of South Africa.[2] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] This dicot plant bears a strong resemblance to a scouring rush or horsetail (Equisetum ) spp. with whorls of around 25 side shoots spaced 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) apart. The plant is usually 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high but can reach 3 m (9.8 ft) on occasion. The flowers are brown and inconspicuous.[4]

References

  1. ^ J. S. African Bot. 33: 156 (1967)
  2. ^ a b "Elegia capensis (Burm.f.) Schelpe". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Elegia capensis horsetail restio". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. ^ Turner, R.J. Jr.; Wasson, Ernie (1999). Botanica. not stated: Barnes & Noble. p. 326. ISBN 0760716420.