Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis mlangoyajehenum Verdc.

First published in Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Cyperac.: 85 (2010)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Kenya. It is a perennial 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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Type
Typus: Kenya, Naivasha District: Njoroa Gorge, Hell’s Gate steam jets, Verdcourt 714 (K!, holo.; EA, K!, PRE, iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Very densely tufted perennial 15–40 cm long with very many (up to several hundred) rigidly erect narrowly striate culms with dense upwardly directed hairs ± 0.5 mm long (not densely spreading pubescent)
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheaths pale yellow-brown, up to 5 cm long, densely appressed-pubescent, with long hairs at the throat; blades short, 1.2 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences obtriangular, not open and spreading, of one sessile spikelet and 4–5 stalked spikelets; stalks stout, strongly striate, 5–7 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 5–9 mm long, apiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 9 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes pale yellow-brown with white-margined green keels, ovate, 3.5–4 mm long, 3 mm wide, acute, finely shortpubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets white, elongate-obovoid, ± trigonous, 1–1.1 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, not transversely rugose, but with pattern of elongate surface cells.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style base pale, not persistent
Ecology
On very hot soil by steam jets; 1700–1950 m
Note
It is extraordinary that this plant, well known to the many visitors to Hell’s Gate, appears to be new. It has mostly been named “ Fimbristylis exilis” but differs from B. hispidula indumentum, habit and nutlet; it has also been confused with four other quite different species. Material from Suswa has more reduced inflorescences and sometimes darker spikelets. The specific epithet is a Swahili translation of ‘Hell’s Gate’.
Distribution
Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: K3 K6
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • 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