Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis melanocephala (Ridl.) C.B.Clarke

First published in T.A.Durand & H.Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 615 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Angola to W. Zambia. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical 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
Angola, Huíla, Morro de Lopollo, iv.1860, Welwitsch 6947 (BM holotype, LISU, K drawing).
Morphology General Habit
Tufted annual up to 15 cm tall; rhizome and tunic of leaf bases lacking
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, 1/3 – 1/2 to occasionally equalling culm length; leaf sheaths hairy, mouth inconspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades c. 60 × 0.18 mm, filiform, densely hispid to villose, hairs up to 0.5 mm long
Morphology Culms
Culm 0.2–0.2.5 mm wide, ridged and channeled, scabrid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a single ovate spikelet, 7–8 mm long, sometimes twinned, the second on a ray up to 10 mm long; bracts shorter than spikelet, with few white hairs, glume-like, extending into scabrid awn
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes c. 15, spiral, 2.5–2.8 mm long, ovate, lower minutely scabrid, upper almost glabrous, dark reddish- brown, 3-nerved, margin apically ciliate/fimbriate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 3-branched, base persistent on nutlet
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.8–0.9 × 0.7–0.8 mm, obovoid, trigonous, transversely wavy, without obvious papillae on angles, light brownish yellow; pericarp fractures easily in immature white nutlets.
Distribution
Zambia. Also in Angola.
Ecology
Gravelly soil on rocky granite outcrops; c. 1250 m.
Conservation
Restricted distribution, but probably not threatened.
[FZ]

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

  • 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