Rhynchospora croydonensis R.Booth (Cyperaceae), 
a new species from northern Queensland 
R. Booth 
Summary 
Booth, R. (2015). Rhynchospora croydonensis R.Booth (Cyperaceae), a new species from northern 
Queensland. Austrobaileya 9(3): 416-420. A new species, Rhynchospora croydonensis R.Booth, is 
described and illustrated and notes are provided on its distribution and habitat. A key to Queensland 
species of Rhynchospora Vahl. is provided. 
Key Words: Cyperaceae, Rhynchospora , Rhynchospora croydonensis, Australia flora, Queensland 
flora, new species, taxonomy, identification key 
R.Booth, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, 
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia. Email: Ron. 
Booth@dsiti.qld.gov.au 
Introduction 
Rhynchospora Vahl. is a large, cosmopolitan 
genus consisting of more than 300 species, 
mostly occurring in the tropics and subtropics 
of the Central and South Americas (Strong 
2006). Only a few species are widely 
distributed, though most of the Australian 
species also occur in southeast Asia (Kern 
1974). Australia has about twenty one 
species, with fourteen of these occurring in 
Queensland (Bostock & Holland 2014). 
Bentham & Hooker (1883) separated 
the genus Rhynchospora into two informal 
sections, “ Haplostylae ” and “ Diplostylae ” 
based on the degree of stylar branching 
and this was followed by Kiikenthal (1949, 
1952). Thomas et al. (2009) constructed 
a preliminary molecular phylogeny of 
the genus that indicated the two informal 
sections in Rhynchospora are artificial. A full 
phylogenetic study of the genus with greater 
sampling from Australia and Asia is still 
needed. 
According to the classification of 
Goetghebeur (1986), Rhynchospora may be 
included within the subfamily Cyperoideae , 
tribe Rhynchosporeae. However, Bruhl (1995) 
indicated that the tribe Rhynchosporeae is 
part of the subfamily Caricoideae. Muasya 
et al. (2009) found good molecular support 
for the recognition of tribe Rhynchosporeae 
in an isolated position near tribe Cariceae 
and Scirpeae, with the Rhynchosporeae 
consisting solely of the genus Rhynchospora 
(including Pleurostachys Brongn.). 
Sharpe (1989) provided a key and 
descriptions for four species in southeast 
Queensland, but the most comprehensive 
set of descriptions remain those provided 
by Kiikenthal (1949, 1952). Due to the 
extensive field work undertaken in recent 
years, particularly in north Queensland, more 
Rhynchospora material has become available 
for study at the Queensland Herbarium. 
Critical examination of these collections by 
the present author has now enabled this new 
species to be formally described and named. 
Materials and methods 
All herbarium specimens of Rhynchospora 
held at BRI have been examined. 
Measurements were made from dried 
material. 
Accepted for publication 23 July 2015 
