Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis capitata (Lye) 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, Kasama Dist., 10 km E of Kasama, 19.ii.1961, Robinson 4409 (K holotype).
Morphology General Habit
Delicate erect annual up to 17 cm tall; tunic of leaf bases and rhizome lacking
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, 1/4 –1/3 to occasionally equalling culm length; leaf sheath mouth inconspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades to 40–170 × 0.25–0.3 mm, filiform, glabrous
Morphology Culms
Culms 0.25 mm wide, ridged and furrowed, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence capitate, c. 10 × 6 mm, of 3–7 spikelets; bracts 2–3, much shorter than inflorescence, glume-like with sheathing membranous base, margin scantily white-fringed, midnerve extending into short scabrid to glabrous narrow extension
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 6–7 × 1–2 mm, bi-coloured in dried material-Glumes spiral, 2–2.5 mm long, reddish brown with paler margins, glabrous, midrib ending before rounded or emarginate fimbriated apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style glabrous, 3-branched, base persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.5–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 mm, obovoid, trigonous, white to grey-white at maturity, surface transversely rugose, 3 defined ridges with small tubercles/papillae.
Distribution
Zambia.
Ecology
Shallow soil overlying laterite and sandstone; c. 1400 m.
Conservation
Known only from the type in the Kasama area; probably Vulnerable.
[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