Bulbostylis johnstonii C.B.Clarke

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

Type

Type: Tanzania, Mt Kilimanjaro, Johnston s.n. (K!, lecto., chosen by Haines & Lye)

Morphology General Habit

Slender tufted annual or short-lived perennial 10–30 cm tall with creeping rhizome (fide Vollesen).

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves filiform, up to half the length of the stems, scabrid.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Sheaths hairy and with long white hairs at margins of throat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence open with 1–5 solitary stalked spikelets, 5–9 mm long, 2 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes rusty brown with yellowish keel, elliptic, 2.5–3.5 mm long, shortly hairy, shortly mucronate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet whitish becoming dark grey, obovoid, 1 mm long, not transversely wrinkled but reticulate with large quadrate cells in vertical rows.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Stylebase reddish brown, persistent.

Ecology

Hillside and valley grassland, Erica-Agauria associations, mossy areas with Lycopodium, swamps; 300–2000 m

Note

Haines & Lye state only recorded from Moshi District but then “drawn from Renvoize & Abdallah 1718” which was collected in the W Usambaras. C.B. Clarke cites 4 syntypes but Haines & Lye cite only the Johnston specimens, which is therefore the equivalent of a lectotypification. The Bally specimen from Kenya is a good match of the type so I have accepted the original determination that seems to be in Nelmes’ handwriting, although Haines & Lye do not mention a Kenya record.

Distribution

Flora districts: K6 T2 T3 T4 T8 Range: Malawi

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

Tanzania, Mt Kilimanjaro, v.1884, Johnston s.n. (K lectotype), lectotypified in Haines & Lye (1983).

Morphology General Habit

Annual or short-lived erect perennial to 30 cm tall; rhizome creeping

Morphology Leaves

Leaves numerous, 1/3 –1/2 to occasionally equalling culm length; leaf sheath hairy, mouth conspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades c. 150 × 0.25 mm, filiform, margins scabrid

Morphology Culms

Culms ridged and furrowed, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence anthelate, with 1–5 solitary stalked spikelets; bracts setaceous, c. 9 mm long, margins with few white hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 5–9 × 2 mm, rusty brown to dark brown

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes spiral, 2.5–3.5 mm long, ovate, boat-shaped, pubescent, keel yellowish, minutely excurrent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens ? Style glabrous, style base persistent on nutlet, branches 3, usually shorter than style

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 0.9–1 × 0.7 mm, ± globose, subtrigonous, white, turning light grey to brown when mature, 3 angles lacking papillae, surface with large quadrate cells in vertical rows.

Distribution

Malawi Also in Kenya and Tanzania.

Ecology

Hillsides and valley moist grasslands; 1000–1250 m.

Conservation

Not widespread; possibly threatened.