List of Poales of South Africa

Poales is an order of flowering plants in the monocotyledons, and includes families of plants such as the grasses, bromeliads, and sedges. Sixteen families are currently recognized to be part of Poales. The flowers are typically small, enclosed by bracts, and arranged in inflorescences The flowers of many species are wind pollinated, and the seeds usually contain starch.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

10 families are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Bromeliaceae Family: Bromeliaceae,

Tillandsia Genus Tillandsia: Tillandsia juncea (Ruiz & Pav.) Poir. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised

Cyperaceae Family: Cyperaceae,

Abildgaardia Genus Abildgaardia: Abildgaardia filamentosa (Vahl) Lye var. holubii (C.B.Clarke) Lye, accepted as Bulbostylis scabricaulis Cherm. Abildgaardia hygrophila (Gordon-Gray) Lye, indigenous Abildgaardia ovata (Burm.f.) Kral, indigenous Abildgaardia triflora (L.) Abeyw. indigenous Abildgaardia variegata (Gordon-Gray) Lye, accepted as Fimbristylis variegata Gordon-Gray, present

Afroscirpoides Genus Afroscirpoides: Afroscirpoides dioeca (Kunth) Garcia-Madr. indigenous

Alinula Genus Alinula: Alinula paradoxa (Cherm.) Goetgh. & Vorster, indigenous

Archaeocarex Genus Archaeocarex: Archaeocarex ecklonii (Nees) Pissjauk. accepted as Carex capensis Thunb. indigenous Archaeocarex kunthiana (Kuk.) Pissjauk. accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Archaeocarex rufus (Nees) Fedde & J.Schust. accepted as Carex ludwigii (Hochst.) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Archaeocarex spartea (Wahlenb.) Pissjauk. accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Archaeocarex thunbergii (Nees) Pissjauk. accepted as Carex capensis Thunb. endemic

Ascolepis Genus Ascolepis: Ascolepis capensis (Kunth) Ridl. indigenous

Asterochaete Genus Asterochaete: Asterochaete glomerata Nees, accepted as Carpha glomerata (Thunb.) Nees

Bolboschoenus Genus Bolboschoenus: Bolboschoenus glaucus (Lam.) S.G.Sm. indigenous Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla, indigenous

Bulbostylis Genus Bulbostylis: Bulbostylis boeckeleriana (Schweinf.) Beetle, indigenous Bulbostylis burchellii (Ficalho & Hiern) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis contexta (Nees) M.Bodard, indigenous Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz. indigenous Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz. subsp. afromontana (Lye) R.W.Haines, indigenous Bulbostylis filamentosa (Vahl) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl) R.W.Haines, indigenous Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl) R.W.Haines subsp. pyriformis (Lye) R.W.Haines, indigenous Bulbostylis humilis (Kunth) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis oritrephes (Ridl.) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis oritrephes(Ridl.) C.B.Clarke subsp. australis B.L.Burtt, accepted as Bulbostylis oritrephes (Ridl.) C.B.Clarke, present Bulbostylis parvinux C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis pusilla (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis scabricaulis Cherm. indigenous Bulbostylis schlechteri C.B.Clarke, endemic Bulbostylis schoenoides (Kunth) C.B.Clarke, indigenous Bulbostylis scleropus C.B.Clarke, indigenous

Capeobolus Genus Capeobolus: Capeobolus brevicaulis (C.B.Clarke) Browning, endemic

Carex Genus Carex: Carex acocksii C.Archer, endemic Carex acutiformis Ehrh. not indigenous, naturalised Carex aethiopica Schkuhr, endemic Carex austro-africana (Kuk.) Raymond, accepted as Carex rhodesiaca Nelmes, indigenous Carex basutorum (Turrill) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex bisexualis C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex capensis Thunb. indigenous Carex bolusii C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex buchananii (C.B.Clarke ex C.B.Clarke) C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex kukkoneniana Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex burchelliana Boeck. endemic Carex burkei (C.B.Clarke) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex capensis Schkuhr , accepted as Carex capensis Thunb. indigenous Carex capensis Thunb. endemic Carex cernua Boott var. austro-africana Kuk. accepted as Carex rhodesiaca Nelmes Carex clavata Thunb. endemic Carex cognata Kunth, indigenous Carex cognata Kunth var. drakensbergensis (C.B.Clarke) Kuk. accepted as Carex cognata Kunth, present Carex condensata C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex zuluensis C.B.Clarke Carex consanguinea Kunth, accepted as Carex divisa Huds. Carex densenervosa Chiov. accepted as Carex schimperiana Boeck. indigenous Carex distincta (Kukkonen) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex divisa Huds. not indigenous, naturalised Carex drakensbergensis C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex cognata Kunth Carex dregeana Kunth, accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex dregeana Kunth var. major C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex ecklonii Nees, endemic Carex esenbeckiana Boeck. accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex esenbeckiana Boeck. var. elongata Boeck. accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex glomerabilis V.I.Krecz. indigenous Carex glomerata Thunb. accepted as Carex glomerabilis V.I.Krecz. Carex huttoniana Kuk. accepted as Carex zuluensis C.B.Clarke Carex indica Schkuhr, accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex killickii Nelmes, indigenous Carex kukkoneniana Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex lancea (Thunb.) Baill. endemic Carex leporina L. not indigenous, naturalised Carex leribensis Nelmes, accepted as Carex glomerabilis V.I.Krecz. present Carex ludwigii (Hochst.) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex merxmuelleri Podlech, accepted as Carex zuluensis C.B.Clarke, present Carex monotropa Nelmes, indigenous Carex mossii Nelmes, endemic Carex multispiculata Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex ovalis Gooden., a nom. illeg. synonym; see Carex leporina, above Carex ovata Burm.f. accepted as Abildgaardia ovata (Burm.f.) Kral Carex perdensa (Kukkonen) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, endemic Carex pseudorufa Luceno & Martin-Bravo, endemic Carex pubescens Poir. accepted as Fuirena pubescens (Poir.) Kunth var. pubescens Carex rainbowii Luceno et al. indigenous Carex ramosa Nees, accepted as Carex lancea (Thunb.) Baill. indigenous Carex rhodesiaca Nelmes, indigenous Carex rufa (Nees) Baill. accepted as Carex ludwigii (Hochst.) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, indigenous Carex schimperiana Boeck. indigenous Carex schlechteri Nelmes, accepted as Carex glomerabilis V.I.Krecz. present Carex schweickerdtii (Merxm. & Podlech) Luceno & Martin-Bravo, endemic Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex spicatopaniculata Boeck. ex C.B.Clarke, indigenous Carex sprengelii (Nees) Boeck. accepted as Carex spartea Wahlenb. indigenous Carex subinflata Nelmes, indigenous Carex sylvatica Huds. , not indigenous, naturalised Carex uhligii K.Schum. ex C.B.Clarke, indigenous Carex wahlenbergiana C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex zuluensis C.B.Clarke Carex zeyheri C.B.Clarke, accepted as Carex capensis Thunb. indigenous Carex zuluensis C.B.Clarke, indigenous

Carpha Genus Carpha: Carpha bracteosa C.B.Clarke, endemic Carpha capitellata (Nees) Boeck. indigenous Carpha filifolia C.Reid & T.H.Arnold, indigenous Carpha glomerata (Thunb.) Nees, endemic Carpha schlechteri C.B.Clarke, endemic

Chrysitrix Genus Chrysitrix: Chrysitrix capensis L. var. capensis, endemic Chrysitrix capensis L. var. subteres C.B.Clarke, endemic Chrysitrix dodii C.B.Clarke, endemic Chrysitrix junciformis Nees, endemic

Cladium Genus Cladium: Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl, indigenous Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl subsp. jamaicense (Crantz) Kuk. indigenous

Coleochloa Genus Coleochloa: Coleochloa pallidior Nelmes, indigenous Coleochloa setifera (Ridl.) Gilly, indigenous

Costularia Genus Costularia: Costularia brevicaulis C.B.Clarke, accepted as Capeobolus brevicaulis (C.B.Clarke) Browning, present Costularia natalensis C.B.Clarke, indigenous

Courtoisia Genus Courtoisia: Courtoisia assimilis (Steud.) C.B.Clarke, accepted as Cyperus assimilis Steud. indigenous Courtoisia assimilis (Steud.) Maquet , accepted as Cyperus assimilis Steud. indigenous Courtoisia cyperoides (Roxb.) Nees, accepted as Cyperus pseudokyllingioides Kuk. indigenous Courtoisia cyperoides (Roxb.) Sojak , indigenous Courtoisina assimilis (Steud.) Maquet, accepted as Cyperus assimilis Steud. indigenous Courtoisina cyperoides (Roxb.) Sojak, accepted as Cyperus pseudokyllingioides Kuk. indigenous Courtoisina cyperoides (Roxb.) Sojak subsp. africanus (C.B.Clarke ex Kuk.) Vorster, accepted as Cyperus pseudokyllingioides Kuk. indigenous

Cyathocoma Genus Cyathocoma: Cyathocoma bachmannii (Kuk.) C.Archer, endemic Cyathocoma ecklonii Nees, endemic Cyathocoma hexandra (Nees) Browning, endemic

Cyperus Genus Cyperus: Cyperus albiceps Ridl. accepted as Kyllinga albiceps (Ridl.) Rendle Cyperus albostriatus Schrad. indigenous Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. indigenous Cyperus alternifolius L. subsp. flabelliformis (Rottb.) Kuk. accepted as Cyperus involucratus Rottb. Cyperus amabilis Vahl, indigenous Cyperus amabilis Vahl var. subacaulis Kuk. accepted as Cyperus amabilis Vahl Cyperus amnicola Kunth, accepted as Cyperus rupestris Kunth var. amnicola (Kunth) Kuk. Cyperus angolensis Boeck. indigenous Cyperus aristatus Rottb. accepted as Cyperus squarrosus L. Cyperus aristatus Rottb. var. atriceps Kuk. accepted as Cyperus atriceps (Kuk.) C.Archer & Goetgh. present Cyperus articulatus L. indigenous Cyperus assimilis Steud. indigenous Cyperus atribulbus Kuk. accepted as Pycreus atribulbus (Kuk.) Napper Cyperus atriceps (Kuk.) C.Archer & Goetgh. indigenous Cyperus auricomus Sieber ex Spreng. accepted as Cyperus digitatus Roxb. subsp. auricomus (Sieber ex Spreng.) Kuk. Cyperus austro-africanus C.Archer & Goetgh. indigenous Cyperus bellus Kunth, indigenous Cyperus betschuanus Boeck. accepted as Pycreus betschuanus (Boeck.) C.B.Clarke Cyperus blepharoleptos Steud. indigenous Cyperus brevis Boeck. indigenous Cyperus brunneo-vaginatus Boeck. accepted as Cyperus marginatus Thunb. Cyperus bullatus Kuk. accepted as Cyperus chersinus (N.E.Br.) Kuk. Cyperus capensis (Steud.) Endl. endemic Cyperus capensis (Steud.) Endl. var. pseudomarlothii Kuk. forma globospica, accepted as Cyperus uitenhagensis (Steud.) C.Archer & Goetgh. Cyperus capensis (Steud.) Engl. var. pseudomarlothii Kuk. accepted as Cyperus uitenhagensis (Steud.) C.Archer & Goetgh. Cyperus chersinus (N.E.Br.) Kuk. indigenous Cyperus chrysanthus Boeck. accepted as Pycreus chrysanthus (Boeck.) C.B.Clarke Cyperus compactus Lam. accepted as Cyperus obtusiflorus Vahl var. obtusiflorus Cyperus compressus L. indigenous Cyperus congestus Vahl, indigenous Cyperus congestus Vahl var. brevis (Boeck.) Kuk. accepted as Cyperus brevis Boeck. Cyperus congestus Vahl var. glanduliferus (C.B.Clarke) Kuk. accepted as Cyperus congestus Vahl Cyperus congestus Vahl var. grandiceps Kuk. accepted as Cyperus congestus Vahl