Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis scrobiculata (Lye) Lye

First published in Nordic J. Bot. 28: 517 (2010)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. 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: not 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., Mbala (Abercorn), sandpits, 18.iii.1962, Robinson 5043 (K holotype, NU).
Morphology General Habit
Delicate, erect or drooping, flexuous annual up to 20 cm; rhizome and tunic of leaf bases lacking
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, ¼ to occasionally equalling culm length; leaf sheath mouth inconspicuously long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades to 50 × 0.2–0.25 mm, filiform, margins glabrous
Morphology Culms
Culms 0.3–0.5 mm wide, ridged and furrowed, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence bisanthelate, of central sessile spikelet with 4–5(8) glabrous primary (10–20 mm long) and secondary (c. 7 mm long) inflorescence branches bearing added spikelets; bracts 3–4, c. 5 mm long, margins lacking obvious long white hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets acute, 3–4 × 1–1.3 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes spiral, ± 12, 1.3–1.6 mm long, dark brown, flanks scaberulous, margins fimbriolate, midvein 3-nerved, terminating at apex (not mucronate)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 1
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style base round, dark brown, base persistent on nutlet, style branches 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.5–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 mm, creamy white to pale brown, obovoid, trigonous, surface with slightly raised, parallel transverse bands (c. 10 shallow rugae), appearing white in mature nutlets.
Distribution
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Also in Burundi, Tanzania, D.R. Congo and Angola.
Ecology
Sandy damp soil and overgrazed savanna; 800–1700 m.
Conservation
Widespread; not threatened.
Recognition
Bulbostylis scrobiculata is similar to B. pusilla and B. densa, but distinguished from them by the small white transverse stripes on the outer cell walls of the nutlet and by the more fimbriolate glumes.
[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