Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis meruensis Verdc.

First published in Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Cyperac.: 109 (2010)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania (Mt. Meru). It is an annual and grows primarily in the subtropical 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
Type: Tanzania, Arusha District: W flank of Mt Meru, Gereau & Abdallah 1727 (K!, holo.; MO, iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Small tufted annual 1.5–3 cm tall with reduced rootstock of a few slender roots.
Morphology Stem
Stem scarcely developed
Morphology Leaves
Leaves overtopping the very short flowering stes, linear, 1.5–3 cm long.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths with long hairs, blades grooved with very short spine-like hairs and many brown dots
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1 to several per plant, shorter than the leaves, each with one spikelet.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peducles up to 10 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes chestnut brown, oblong-ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, 2 mm wide with a broad green 3-ribbed keel produced into an acumen at the apex, that of the lowest glume being 1 mm long, with some marginal hairs at apices of glumes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers 0.6 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma bifid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets white, compressed ovoid, not in any way trigonous, ± 1 mm long and wide but less thick, with ± 12 irregular ribs on each side joined by transverse riblets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style-base orange brown, small, persistent.
Ecology
Dense moor-like shrub formation; ± 2610 m
Note
The inflorescence needs study from fresh material to understand the exact structure; what appear to be several separate inflorescences of one spikelet could be derived from a very reduced compound inflorescence with the lower axes much reduced.
Distribution
Flora districts: Known only from the type Flora districts: T2
[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