Fimbristylis pilosa Vahl

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

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

Type

Type: Ghana, Thonning 391 (C, syn., P-JU, isosyn.) (Vahl also cites a specimen from Insula Franciae (Mauritius) but this specimen in his herbarium is a different species.)

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial 25–60 cm tall, with short erect bulbous rhizome, or more rarely annual; base often covered by fibrous remnants of old split leaf sheaths.

Morphology Stem

Stems compressed above, angular below, 0.4–1 mm wide, usually densely set with short or long spine-like hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheaths hairy, with brownish wings near the throat; ligule a rim of dense hairs Leaves 15–20 cm long 0.5–3 mm wide, flat, channelled or inrolled with margins densely hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence simple with 1 sessile and 1–2 stalked spikelets or usually compound with 4–12 spikelets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts leafy 0.5–4 cm long, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets ovoid, 5–12 mm long, 3–4 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes reddish brown with paler margins and midrib, strongly concave, 2.5–3 mm long, 3 mm wide, glabrous or with few scattered hairs but shortly ciliate on margins, obtuse or shortly acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style flattened and ciliate, 2-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet brownish, obovoid-biconvex, 1.2–1.7 mm long, 1.4 mm wide, with ± 20 longitudinal ridges connected with very many horizontal riblets visible when mature, ± smooth or densely warted.

Ecology

Seasonally flooded grassland, bushed grasslands, muddy pool and swamp margins, on damp sandy soil in dry river beds, edge of Brachystegia patches; 30–1150 m

Note

Many specimens at Kew accepted as this species by Hooper and Napper have densely warted fruit and more work needs doing. It is certainly not constant even in one locality. Haines and Lye do not mention warts in fact in final note they state only faintly striate fruit without tubercles.

Distribution

Range: Senegal to Nigeria, Congo-Kinshasa, Angola Flora districts: U2 U3 K7 T6 T8 Z

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

Guinea, no locality, Thonning 393 (C syntype, P).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial (usually 2–3 years) or occasionally annual, up to c. 60 cm tall; base slightly thickened, surrounded by leaf sheath remnants

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 120–200 × 0.5–3 mm, margins densely hairy; ligule a fringe of short hairs

Morphology Culms

Culms 25–70 cm tall, angular to compressed above, densely villous, hairs sometimes stiff (spine-like)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a simple or compound anthela with 4–9 spikelets or consisting of one sessile and 1–2 stalked spikelets; bracts leafy, to 6 cm long, hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets ovoid, 3.5–7(12) × 2–4 mm, compact

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 2.5–3 mm long, dark chestnut with black patches, keel green, strongly concave, margins shortly ciliate, apex obtuse to shortly acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style upper half ciliate, branches 2

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet biconvex, 1.2–1.7 × 1.4 mm, gynophore present; surface smooth in young examples, developing usually ± 20 longitudinal ridges with age, ridges transversely elongated; tubercles present or absent.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe. Also in West Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, D.R. Congo, Burundi and Angola.

Ecology

In seasonally wet grasslands and swamp edges; 600–1100 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.