Uncinia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Uncinia Pers.
Type species
Uncinia australis Pers. [1]
Synonyms  [2]
Agistron Raf.

Uncinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae, known as hook-sedges in Australia ^[3] and as hook grasses or bastard grasses in New Zealand. ^[4] The genus is characterised by the presence of a long hook formed by an extension of the rachilla, ^[5] which is used to attach the fruit to passing animals ( epizoochory), especially birds, ^[6] and it is this feature which gives the genus its name, from the Latin uncinus, meaning a hook or barb. ^[7]

Systematics

Uncinia is a "satellite genus" of the very large genus Carex, alongside other satellites such as Cymophyllus, Kobresia, Schoenoxiphium, Vesicarex. ^[8] Uncinia seems to form a monophyletic group, with the most distinct species being U. kingii, a species which has sometimes been placed in the genus Carex. ^[5] Similarly, Carex microglochin has sometimes been included in Uncinia, as U. microglochin. ^[9]

Distribution

Uncinia has a Gondwanan distribution, ^[5] with most species found Australia, New Zealand and South America, ^[3] as far north as Mexico and Jamaica. ^[10] Of the 50–60 species, 30 are endemic to New Zealand, ^[11] 6 are endemic to the east coast of Australia, ^[3] and 4 are endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands. ^[12] Smaller numbers of species are also found in New Guinea, Borneo, the Philippines, Hawaii, Tristan da Cunha, Kerguelen, Île Amsterdam, Île Saint-Paul, and the Prince Edward Islands, although none are known from the mainland of Africa. ^[10] This distribution suggests that the genus had an origin in Antarctica. ^[13]

It contains the following species:

References