Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis afromicrocephala Lye

First published in Nordic J. Bot. 28: 516 (2010)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is N. Zambia. It is an annual 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]

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
Zambia, Mbala Dist., pans 12 km S of Mbala, 18.iii.1962, Robinson 5048 (MT holotype, K).
Morphology General Habit
Erect annual, 3–12 cm tall; tunic of leaf bases and rhizome lacking
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, 1/4 – 1/3 culm height; leaf sheath mouth conspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades to 30 × 0.2–0.3 mm, filiform, margins and nerves scabrid
Morphology Culms
Culms ridged and furrowed, scabrid below inflorescence
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence capitate, 3–8 × 3–7 mm, of 3–7 sessile spikelets; bracts 2–6, shorter than inflorescence, glume-like basally, with long white hairs, apically filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 3–6 × 1–1.5 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes spiral, 1.5–2 mm long, ovate, medium to dark reddish brown, margins fimbriate, flanks glabrous, pallid midrib 3-nerved, apex obtuse or subacute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2–3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style glabrous, dark brown, style base minute, persistent on nutlet, branches 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.4–0.5 × 0.4– 0.5 mm, obtusely triangular-pyriform, greyish-white at maturity, surface appearing smooth or faintly transversely wavy with indistinct papillae.
Distribution
Zambia.
Ecology
Seasonally damp soil on laterite; c. 1700 m.
Conservation
Apparently endemic to Mbala and so far known only from the type; possibly Vulnerable.
Recognition
The capitate inflorescence has unusual and distinctive involucral bracts, appearing almost like glumes, transparent light brown in colour, with long white hairs, 3-nerved midnerve narrowing to a green awn-like extension.
[FZ]

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

  • 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