Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis burchellii (Ficalho & Hiern) C.B.Clarke

First published in T.A.Durand & H.Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 612 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

J. Browning, K.D. Gordon-Gray†, M. Lock, H. Beentje, K. Vollesen, K. Bauters, C. Archer, I. Larridon, M. Xanthos, P. Vorster, J. Bruhl, K. Wilson and X. Zhang (2020). Flora Zambesiaca Volume: 14: Cyperaceae. M.Á. García, J.R. Timberlake (Eds). Kew Publish

Type
Zambia, W side of high plateau along upper reaches of R. Ninde by Zambezi, 14°46'S 20°56'E, viii.1878, Serpa Pinto 60, 62 (LISU syntypes).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, up to 50 cm tall, densely tufted, appearing annual in early growth; rhizome mostly inconspicuous, compact, woody, with closely packed stem bases
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheaths finely pubescent pilose, not woolly, mouth sloping, conspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades filiform, pubescence mostly on nerves, apex acute
Morphology Culms
Culms erect, glabrous below to scabrid upwards
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence anthelate, usually compound, of (11)37(90) spikelets, occasionally much reduced; bracts 2–4, variable in length
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 4–10 × 1–2 mm; basal glumes tardily deciduous, rachilla shortly winged
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 2.2–3.6 × 1.3–2.5 mm, prominent keel of 3 greenish veins terminating in apex (upper) or minutely mucronate (lower), margin fringed white hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 3-angled, sparsely villous to glabrous, 3-branched, base rounded, vertically flattened, persistent on nutlet
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.6–1 × 0.4–0.7 mm, obovate to obcordate in outline, trigonous, surface transversely wavy, individual cells longitudinally oblong, 1–3 papillae developing per cell at maturity.
Distribution
Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique Also in Tanzania, Namibia, Angola and South Africa (Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga).
Ecology
In Uapaca–Brachystegia woodland, coastal grassland and savanna on sand; 10–1600 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
Recognition
Bulbostylis burchellii may be distinguished by the closely packed very narrow and fine (filiform) leaves that give a distinct tufted appearance. Plants are sometimes confused with both B. contexta and B. densa subsp. afromontana; the latter is annual and more delicate while B. contexta is more robust with larger spikelets than B. burchellii.
[FZ]

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type
Types: Zambia, upper course of R. Nindi (affluent of Zambesi), Serpa Pinto 60, 62 (LISU, syn.)
Morphology General Habit
Densely tufted perennial 15–60 cm tall with woody rhizome.
Morphology Stem
Stems crowded, 0.3–0.6 mm wide, angular, scabrid
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 5–20 cm long, filiform, densely scabrid.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths brown, scabrid to hairy and with long whitish hairs on the mouth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence open and umbelliform of 7–20 spikelets and often with 2–4 secondary umbels.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets lanceolate, 4–10 mm long, 1–2 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reddish brown with paler margins, 2.5–3 mm long, finely hairy; midrib prominently 3-ribbed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets white or tinged brownish, obovoid, somewhat triangular, 0.7–1 mm long, (0.4–)0.5–0.6(–0.7) mm wide, the surface appearing smooth or faintly wrinkled but with many close longitudinal riblets (Haines & Lye’s SEM shows surface cells elongate with very strongly sinuate margins).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style bases dark, flattened, persistent.
Ecology
Open coastal forest on sandy soil and marginal mangrove vegetation; 10–75 m
Distribution
Range: Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa Flora districts: T3 T6
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0