Xyris L

Key to the Malagasy species of Xyris 1 Keel of lateral sepals entire; bracts, leaf and stem bases pale or dark brown when dried....................................... 2 1a. Keel of lateral sepals toothed, at least in the middle; bracts, leaf and stem bases always dark brown when dried....... 5 2 Scape spirally twisted, base swollen, bulbous; leaves filiform, c. 1 mm wide............................................. X. labatii 2a. Scape straight, not twisted, base not swollen; leaves linear, more than 2 mm wide.......................................... 3 3. Bracts with a distinct sub-terminal, triangular or rhomboid mark; inflorescence broadly ovoid at anthesis, or rarely subspherical; plants perennial........................................ 4 3a. Bracts without a distinct sub-terminal, triangular or rhomboid mark; inflorescence sub-spherical at anthesis; plants usually annual................................................ X. capensis 4. Keel of lateral sepals not winged; bract apices conspicuously thickened, dark brown, somewhat recurved; plant less than 15 cm tall.......................................... X. humilis 4a. Keel of lateral sepals winged; bract apices not conspicuously thickened, light brown, not recurved; plant more than 25 cm tall.......................................................... X. anceps 5. Leaves large (0.6-0.8 cm); inflorescence c. 10 mm in diam., broadly ovate-elliptic, not elongating with age................. ��������������������������������������������������������������. X. marojejyensis 5a. Leaves narrow (X. baronii 6a. Leaves 20-40 �� 0.15-0.2 cm; inflorescence ellipsoid, c. 1 cm long at anthesis................................ X. congensis
Published as part of Rakotonirina, Nivo, Callmander, Martin W., Phillipson, Peter B. & Lock, J. Michael, 2014, Two new species of Xyris L. (Xyridaceae) endemic to Madagascar with a key to the Malagasy species, pp. 171-178 in Candollea 69 (2) on pages 172-173, DOI: 10.15553/c2014v692a9, http://zenodo.org/record/5768228