Cyperaceae
Fimbristylis

Fimbristylis madagascariensis Boeckeler

First published in Abh. Naturwiss. Vereine Bremen 7: 38 (1880)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. Central & E. Tropical Africa to N. Zambia, Madagascar. It is a rhizomatous geophyte 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
Madagascar, Antananarivo, Rustenberg s.n. (B holotype).
Recognition
Appears to differ from Fimbristylis ferruginea only in the presence of lateral rhizome (stolons) and in the absence of glume hairs.
Distribution
Zambia. Also in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Madagascar.
Ecology
Fringing freshwater swamps and seasonally wet grassland; c. 1500 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
Note
As most Fimbristylis species (except true annuals) will produce lateral rhizomes, especially when growing in ± permanent water, it is not clear if the differences between F. madagascariensis and F. ferruginea are taxonomically valid. If not, the latter name should prevail.
[FZ]

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

Type
Type: Madagascar, Antananarivo, Rustenberg s.n. (B, holo.)
Morphology General Habit
Perennial 30–60(–90) cm tall with erect woody rhizome, stoloniferous [although the stolens are not visible in much herbarium material].
Morphology Stem
Stems solitary or few together, 30–60 cm tall, 1–2 mm wide, compressed, ridged, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 5–30 cm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, flat or channelled, with short spine-like marginal hairs, rounded at apex.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths with thin orange brownish wings; ligule a distinct rim of dense hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence as in last species; main bract leafy 1–3 cm long, 2 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 4–8(–16) mm long, 2–3 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes usually entirely reddish brown, 3–4 mm long, obtuse with short mucro
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2–3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style flattened with ciliate margin, 2-branched
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets greyish, ovoid-globose, 1–3 mm long with cells in longitudinal rows and scattered large papillae.
Ecology
" Miscanthus swamps, lake and swamp edges, swamps in miombo woodland, seasonally wet grassland; ?0 (see note) (900–)1140–2100 m
Note
" Wingfield 2031 (Tanzania, Uzaramo District: 28 km NNW of Dar es Salaam, 200 m S of log cabin, 15 July 1972) in seasonal short grass and sedge grazed swamp at sea level, has been named by the collector as this species, but is more densely tufted with different coloured spikelets; but the nutlets are very densely warted. The nutlets are very densely warted in Peter 39634 but no stolons are apparent.
Distribution
Range: Burundi; Madagascar Flora districts: U4 K4 T1 T 3?, T4 T 6 (see note)
[FTEA]

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]

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