A preliminary revision of the supraspecific classification of Kobresia Willd. (Cyperaceae)

Previous supraspecific classifications of the genus Kobresia are evaluated. The evolution of the genus is discussed, and a preliminary revised suprasp ecific classification based on putative evolution is proposed. Previous cla ssifications were mostly based on inflorescence characters. The spicate inf lorescence might have evolved in parallel from a paniculate one, and unisex ual spikelet might also be the result of parallel evolution from bisexual s pikelets. Therefore, the subgenera or sections Elyna and Hemicarex, which w ere recognized by previous authors and characterized by the spicate inflore scence (the former with bisexual spikelets and the latter with unisexual on es), may be polyphyletic. In the classification presented here, three subge nera are recognized. A new subgenus Blysmocarex (N.A. Ivanova) S.R. Zhang i s proposed. A key to subgenera and sections is included, and types, synonym ies and representative species are given under each supraspecific rank. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of London.