Bulbostylis scabricaulis Cherm.

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

Madagascar, Mevatanana, i.1900, Perrier de la Bathie 477 (P syntype); Ampombo, ii.1907, Perrier de la Bathie 4578 (P syntype, K).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial up to 70 cm tall, tufted, with a tunic of dark brown leaf bases sometimes sparsely developed, seldom becoming loose as in B. filamentosa

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheath orifice with long flexuous hairs; leaf blades 80–180 × 0.4–0.6 mm, abaxially densely white pilose below to glabrescent with age, hairs mostly confined to nerves

Morphology Culms

Culms scapose, generally not conspicuous among leaves, terete to slightly angled below inflorescence, ridged and furrowed, densely white hispid (scabrid) but velutinous below inflorescence, occasionally glabrescent to glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 6–14 × 9–17 mm, of 12–15 spikelets closely packed when young, becoming distinct at maturity; bracts with sheathing part short, remainder narrowed, as long as or exceeding inflorescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4–12 × 1.5–2.3 mm, polygonal-cylindric, sometimes flattened in upper half

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 1.8–2.7 × 2.1–3.3 mm, broadly boat-shaped, acute to mucronulate, margins shortly ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style base c. 0.1 mm deep, persistent, same colour as nutlet, 3-angled, not vertically flattened, more conspicuous than in B. filamentosa

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1–1.4 × 0.7–1 mm, golden becoming slate grey at full maturity, apex never depressed, surface reticulate, finely and closely transversely rugulose, not punctulate.

Distribution

Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Also Senegal to Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa (Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal), Lesotho and Swaziland.

Ecology

Grassland, savanna and Brachystegia woodland; 1000–1600 m.

Conservation

Very scattered, never common, rare in South Africa; not threatened.

Recognition

Distinguished from Bulbostylis filamentosa by the scabrid culm and smaller glumes.

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

Type

Types: Madagascar, Mevatanana, Perrier de la Bathie 477 (P, syn.) & Ampombo, Perrier de la Bathie 4578 (P, syn.; K!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial 15–50 cm tall with small clusters of bulb-like persistent woody stem-bases remaining attached to each other and new ones arising within the broadened and hardened lower leaf sheaths.

Morphology Stem

Stems 0.1–1 mm thick, glabrous or with short adpressed hairs below and much denser ones above that render stems scabrid

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheaths pale to dark reddish brown or golden brown with long flexuous hairs at the throat; blades flat or channelled, up to 25 cm long, 0.5 mm wide, shortly hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of many sessile or very shortly stalked spikelets 5–8 mm long, 0.5–2 mm wide, forming dark brown to almost black heads.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 0.5–3 cm long, long drawn-out above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes paler at midrib and margin, acute or with short projection, sparsely pubescent or ± glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet at first yellowish white, later dark brown, reticulate or obscurely papillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style base persistent.

Ecology

Seasonal grassland with bracken and Protea, near swamps, soil in crevices on rocky slopes; 1000–2100 m

Note

" Bidgood et al. 5099 (Iringa District: 33 km on Mafinga–Madibira road, 26 Mar. 2006, in dwarf Brachystegia taxifolia woodland) is a form with spreading pubescence.

Distribution

Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K6 T2 T3 T6 T7 T8 Range: Senegal to Angola, central and SE Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa; Madagascar

Cyperaceae, Miss S. S. Hooper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Diagnostic

Close to B. filamentosa and B. metralis but distinguished by the larger more distinct spikelets and stem below the inflorescence scabrid hairy

Ecology

Moist places.