Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis macra (Ridl.) C.B.Clarke

First published in T.A.Durand & H.Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 614 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is SW. & S. Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry 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
Angola, Huíla, Lopollo, ii.1860, Welwitsch 6955 (LISU holotype, BM, K).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial to 40 cm, densely tufted with a slightly swollen woody base; persistent tunic of leaf sheaths
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, 1/3 to 1/2 culm length; leaf sheaths densely white pubescent to glabrescent below, mouth truncate, occasionally auriculate laterally, white-bearded; leaf blades 40–70(110) × 0.3 mm, filiform, margins pubescent to pilose
Morphology Culms
Culms scapose, terete, ridged and furrowed, white pilose to pubescent below inflorescence, occasionally glabrescent or glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a solitary sessile spikelet, sometimes with an additional pedicelled spikelet; bracts 2–3, to 20 mm long, glume-like
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelet cylindric, compact, 8–12(16) × 2–4 mm, elliptic to oblong, golden to chestnut brown, basal glumes tardily deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 3.8–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, finely pubescent abaxially, veins terminating below margin, apex acute to rounded when young, margins long ciliate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 20–30 mm long, trigonous, 3-branched, densely fringed, base rounded, vertically depressed, persistent on nutlet
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 1.1–1.5 × 0.8–1 mm, trigonous, occasionally biconvex, obovoid, surface closely transversely rugose, outermost cells longitudinally oblong.
Distribution
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in Burundi, Tanzania, D.R. Congo and Angola.
Ecology
Often in dry stony areas in miombo woodland; 1000–1700 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
Recognition
This species is closely related to Bulbostylis schoenoides and B. macrostachya. It differs from the latter which has an anthelate inflorescence of 3–5 branches with spikelets surrounding the solitary terminal one.
Note
Plants are resistant to burning, developing tunics of persistent leaf sheaths that are shorter, finer and more slender than those of Bulbostylis schoenoides. Particularly in N Zambia, plants with wider leaves may occur. These are unispicate but with larger spikelets, longer narrower glumes and larger nutlets than in typical Bulbostylis macra. Intermediates have also been noted in other parts of the distributional range (Goetghebeur & Coudijzer 1985).
[FZ]

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]

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

Type
Type: Angola, Huilla, Lopollo, Welwitsch 6955 (LISU, holo.; BM, iso.; K!, drawing)
Morphology General Habit
Tufted perennial 5–35 cm tall with ± swollen base.
Morphology Stem
Stems 0.2–0.5 mm thick, angular and scabrid below the inflorescence
Morphology Leaves
Leaves many, bright emerald green, almost filiform, 2–12 cm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, scabrid or slightly hairy.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths with dense long whitish hairs at mouth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a solitary terminal ovoid to lanceolate spikelet 6–13 mm long, 2–4 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts glume-like but sometimes with green long leafy excurrent midrib.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reddish brown, lanceolate, ± 4 mm long, hairy at least on margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style branches 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet pale, ovoid, 2.5–3 mm long, 2 mm wide, trigonous, transversely wrinkled, with persistent blackish brown style-base.
Ecology
Brachystegia woodland on rocky hilltops and slopes; 1050–1900 m
Distribution
Range: Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe; Congo-Kinshasa, Zambia, Malawi Flora districts: T4 T7 T8
[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