Table 1 Comparison of Scirpus weichangensis X.Q. Liang, sp. nov. with extant species

Fossil

Obovate

+

0.88 ± 0.04

0.65 ± 0.05

Net

3

Apical half

This study

S. orientalis Ohwi

Obovate to elliptic

Compressed

5–6

+

Oh and Ham 1998; Dai et al. 2010

S. radicans Schkuhr

Obovate

Compressed

0.9

0.5

6

Near apex

Oh and Ham 1998; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004; Dai et al. 2010

S. karuisawensis Makino

Oblong to obovate

Compressed

1

6

Near apex

Oh and Ham 1998; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004; Dai et al. 2010

S. lushanensis Ohwi

Elliptic

Compressed

1.5

0.5

6

Near apex

Dai et al. 2010

S. wichurae Boeckeler

Elliptic to obovate

+

1.3

6 (silk-like)

Apical half

Oh and Ham 1998; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004; Dai et al. 2010

S. ternatanus Reinwardt ex Miquel

Elliptic, obovate, subspherical

Biconvex

0.7–1

2–3

Apical half

Pignotti and Mariotti 2004; Dai et al. 2010

S. chunianus Tang & Wang

Elliptic to subspherical

Biconvex

1.5

Verruculose

2–3

Near apex

Dai et al. 2010

S. rosthornii Diels

Elliptic to subspherical

Biconvex

0.6–0.7

2–3

Apical half

Dai et al. 2010

S. filipes Clarke

Obovate

Compressed

6

+

Dai et al. 2010

S. hainanensis Huang

Obovate to broadly obovate

+

1.5

6

Apically pubescent

Dai et al. 2010

S. maximowiczii Clarke

Narrowly obovate

+

1.8–2

1

6

Near apex

Dai et al. 2010

S. paniculatocorymbosus Kükenthal

Narrowly obovate

+

1.5

6

Dai et al. 2010

S. ancistrochaetu Schuyler

Elliptic to obovate

Plano-convex

1.1–1.7

0.6–0.8

6

In distal 0.6–0.9

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. atrocinctus Fernald

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.7–0.9

0.4–0.5

6 (slender)

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. atrovirens Willdenow

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

(0.8-) 1.0–1.3

0.4–0.6

(5–) 6

In distal 0.3–0.6

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. congdonii Britton

Obovate or elliptic

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.9–1.3

0.6–0.8

6 (slender)

In distal 0.5

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. cyperinus (Linnaeus) Kunth

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.6–0.9

0.3–0.5

6

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. diffuses Schuyler

Obovate or elliptic

Plano-convex

0.9–1.3

0.7–0.8

6 (slender)

In distal 0.5

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002

S. divaricatus Elliott

Elliptic-obovate

Strongly trigonous with very strong angles and concave sides

0.8–1.0

0.6–0.8

6

In distal 0.5

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. expansus Fernald

Oblong-elliptic to broadly elliptic or obovate

Plano-convex or sometimes plumply trigonous

1.0–1.6

(0.6-) 0.8–1.0

6

Almost to base

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002

S. flaccidifolius (Fernald) Schuyler

Elliptic or obovate

Plano-convex or plumply trigonous

1.0–1.2

0.4–0.6

6 (slender)

In distal 0.2–0.5

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. georgianus Harper

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.6–1.2

0.4–0.5

0–3

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. hattorianus Makino

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous

(0.6-) 0.7–1.1

0.3–0.5

(4-) 5–6

In distal (0.1–) 0.2–0.4

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. lineatus Michaux

Elliptic

Plano-convex or plumply trigonous

0.1–1.5

0.6–0.7

6 (slender)

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. longii Fernald

Elliptic or obovate

Plano-convex or plumply trigonous

0.7–1.0

0.4–0.5

6 (slender)

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002

S. microcarpus Presl & Presl

Ovate to obovate

Biconvex to plano-convex

0.7–1.6

0.8–1.0

(3-) 4 (−6)

Arranged almost to base

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. pallidus (Britton) Fernald

Oblong-elliptic to elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.8–1.2

0.4–0.6

6

In distal 0.3–0.5

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. pedicellatus Fernald

Elliptic or obovate

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

0.7–0.9

0.4–0.5

6

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002

S. pendulus Muhlenberg

Elliptic

Plano-convex or plumply trigonous

1.0–1.2

0.6–0.8

6

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. polyphyllus Vahl

Obovate or nearly obtriangular

Plumply trigonous or plano-convex

1.1–1.4(−1.8)

0.8–1.0

6

In distal 1/2

Whittemore and Schuyler 2002; Pignotti and Mariotti 2004

S. polystachyus Muell.

Ellipsoid to obovoid

Plano-convex or with a distinct dorsal angle

1.2–1.5

0.6–0.8

Many, filiform

Healy and Edgar 1980; Wilson 1994