Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis capitulatoradiata Browning & Goetgh.

First published in Fl. Zambes. 14: 115 (2020)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Zambia. It 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

Diagnosis
Affiliated to Bulbostylis longiradiata Goetgh. but differs as the anthela has a central group of sessile spikelets and the inflorescence branches are obliquely upright with a slight outward curve.
Type
Zambia, Ndola Rural Dist., c. 33 km SW of Luanshya, Chibuli Hill, 28°14.30'E 13°24.00'S, 1250 m, 17.iv.1998, Leteinturier, Malaisse & Matera 69 (BR holotype, GENT, K).
Morphology General Habit
Tufted erect annual up to 45 cm tall; rhizome and tunic of leaf bases lacking
Morphology Leaves
Leaves numerous, shorter or occasionally equalling culm length; leaf sheath mouth long white-fringed, ligule 0; leaf blades 100–160 × 0.25–0.3 mm, filiform, inrolled when dry, margins hispidulous
Morphology Culms
Culms 0.4–0.5(0.8) mm wide, ridged and furrowed, glabrous, but scabrid below inflorescence
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence bisanthelate, a central group of 3–6(8) sessile spikelets with 4–5 scabridulous obliquely upright slightly outwardly curved branches, 30–40 mm long, bearing spikelets; bracts 3–4, shorter or equalling length of inflorescence brances, scabrid, margins with few long white hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 5–7(10) × 1.5–2 mm, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes spiral, 2.4–2.6 mm long, glabrous to slightly scabrid, light brown (cinnamon) with red-brown stripes, margins apically shortly ciliate, 3-nerved (central green in life), lateral nerves prominent, apex mucronate to shortly apiculate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3, anther c. 1 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style glabrous, red brown basally, base persisten ton nutlet, branches 3, usually shorter than style
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.7–0.9 × 0.5–0.7 mm, grey-brown, obovoid, subtrigonous, angles papillate, surface transversely wavy (8–10 waves), outer layer often velate.
Distribution
Zambia.
Ecology
Open forest on rocky hillslopes amongst rocks; c. 1250 m.
Conservation
Apparently endemic to the Ndola area of W Zambia, but possibly also in adjacent parts of D.R. Congo; probably not threatened.
[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