Bulbostylis schoenoides (Kunth) C.B.Clarke

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

South Africa, Cape Province, between Yellow R. and Zandplaat, 1838, Drège 1040 (P lectotype, K), lectotypified by Haines & Lye (1983). Other Drège syntypes from the E Cape.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial up to 80 cm tall; rhizome woody, with compactly confluent swollen stem bases clothed in leaf bases varing from soft dull brown to coarse hard shining black, forming persistent tunics to aerial shoots, especially prominent following fire

Morphology Leaves

Leaves numerous, half to equalling culm length; leaf sheath mouths truncate to sloping, long white-bearded when young, hairs soon drying and breaking away, ligule 0; leaf blades filiform to linear, to 210 × 0.2–1.5 mm, glabrous except for densely scabrid to ciliate margins

Morphology Culms

Culms terete, several-ridged, glabrous, occasionally sparsely pubescent apically

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a terminal head of 4–6 spikelets (occasionally one below the rest), or anthelate with 1 central sessile spikelet with (1)5 additional pedicelled ones, total dimensions up to 28 × 25 mm; bracts 2–4, to 40 mm long, glabrous to finely white pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 7–17 × 2–4.5 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, dark brown to chestnut-red to black

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 4–7 × 1.9–3.5 mm, glabrous, less often finely white pubescent below, apex emarginate to rounded with veins of keel terminating before margin, soon splitting to appear acute or bifid (important to examine young undamaged examples)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1.4–4.7 mm long, 3-angled, glabrous, branches 3, densely fringed, base 3-angled, persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1.5–1.9 × 1.1–1.3 mm, brown to slate grey, trigonous, surface closely transversely lineolate, outermost cells longitudinally oblong, eventually velate.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique.Also in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, South Africa (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal), Lesotho and Madagascar.

Ecology

Dry or damp grasslands and upland grassland with shrubs; 1200–1700 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.

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

Type

Type: South Africa, Cape province, between yellow R. and Zandplaat, Drège 1040 (P, lecto. **, K!, isolecto.) [locality as given by Gordon-Gray] (** Kunth cites just Drège but no collection number; Haines and Lye’s citation of 1040 can be taken as a lectotypification.)

Morphology General Habit

Densely tufted perennial 10–50 cm tall with basal parts with many blackened burnt-off old leaf bases.

Morphology Stem

Stems 0.5–0.8 mm wide, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (5–)10–25 cm long, 0.5–1(–2) mm wide, flat or slightly channeled, 3–5-ridged beneath, glabrous except for spiny margin, the upper surface with square surface cells; young leaf sheaths pale brown to vinaceous, glabrous save for hairy throat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a compact head of 1–5 obtuse spikelets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts shorter than spikelets (fide Haines & Lye) but in many specimens slender, green and up to 4 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 6–10 mm long, 2–3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dark blackish brown with pale brown to vinaceous midrib, pubescent, margin with short hairs, obtuse or emarginate at the apex, often erose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles white Style base persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets light brown, obovoid, 1.4 mm long, 1 mm wide, transversely wrinkled.

Ecology

Swamp grassland, upland grassland with shrubs; 1200–2350 m

Distribution

Flora districts: U4 K3 T4 T7 Range: Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/140392527/140392536

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Tufted plant with lurid red colouring at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Large black spikelets in a single head

Ecology

Montane grassland.