Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis cardiocarpoides Cherm.

First published in Rev. Zool. Bot. Africaines 24: 298 (1934)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Central Tropical Africa to Uganda and W. Zambia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

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
D.R. Congo, Lower Congo, Kisantu, 4.ii.1932, Vanderyst 28175, 28178, 28182 (BR syntypes); Kisantu, 2.xii.1930, Vanderyst 28044 (BR syntype); between Kasinde & Lubango (Kibale–Ituri), i.1932, Lebrun 4765 (BR syntype, P); Kisantu, 4.ii.1932, Vanderyst 28181 (BR lectotype, P), lectotypified by Huntley on specimen (1953).
Morphology General Habit
Small tufted perennial, sometimes an annual, 6–20 cm tall; new shoots appearing amongst old which are usually rotted or burnt
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheath mouth with many hairs to 5 mm long, ligule 0; leaf blades 40–80 × 0.2–0.4 mm, flat or channeled, glabrous or with a few spine-like hairs particularly near apex
Morphology Culms
Culms ridged and furrowed, glabrous, 0.4–0.5 mm thick
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence head-like, of 3 to many sessile spreading spikelets; bracts 3–12 mm long, ± erect, lacking long white hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 2 mm long, reddish brown, boat-shaped, acute with paler margins and midrib reaching apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style fimbriate, 3-branched, base persistent as brown or blackish knob
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet narrowly obovoid, pale brown with 3 light yellow angles, 1–1.1 × 0.6–7 mm, surface smooth to slightly papillose-reticulate.
Distribution
Zambia. Also in Burundi, Uganda and D.R. Congo. Sandy soil in open grassland and near lake margins; 1200–1400 m.
Conservation
Localised in the Flora area, but probably not threatened. It is likely that this species has been undercollected in the Flora area.
[FZ]

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

Type
Type: Congo-Kinshasa, Lower Congo, Kisantu, Vanderyst 28044, 28175, 28178, 28181, 28182 & Kisantu, Kikonka, Vanderyst 33327 (all BR, syn.) & between Kasindi and Lubango in Kibali Ituri W of Lake Edward, Lebrun 4785 (BR, syn.)
Morphology General Habit
Small tufted perennial 6–20 cm tall with the new shoots appearing amongst the old which are usually rotted or burnt.
Morphology Stem
Stems 0.4–0.5 mm thick
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 4–8 cm long, 0.2–0.4 mm wide, flat or channeled, glabrous or with a few spine-like hairs particularly near the apex. Leaf sheaths pale or reddish brown, glabrous save at the throat which has many hairs 3–5 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of 3–many sessile spreading spikelets forming a head or cross.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 3–12 mm long, ± erect.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 3–5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reddish brown with paler midrib and margins, acute or shortly subulate, glabrous and shiny
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet pale brown, obovoid, 1 mm long, 0.6 mm wide, smooth and shiny.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style base blackish, persistent
Ecology
Disturbed dry sandy Loudetia kagerensis grassland and open sandy ground on raised beach near lake; 1100–1200 m
Note
Bodard puts this in the synonymy of B. puberula var. viguieri (Cherm.) Bodard but this Madagascan taxon is not the same.
Distribution
Flora districts: U4 Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Burundi
[FTEA]

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]

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