Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis densicaespitosa (Lye) R.W.Haines

First published in R.W.Haines & K.A.Lye, Sedges & Rushes E. Afr., App. 3: 1 (1983)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is SE. Kenya. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179769/1589397

Conservation
EN - endangered
[IUCN]

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: Kenya, Tana River District: 48 km S of Garsen, Polhill & Paulo 643 (S, holo.; EA, K!, iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Robust perennial forming a dense clump 25–60 cm tall with a thick woody rhizome ± 5 mm in diameter.
Morphology Stem
Stems many, crowded, 0.5–1.5 mm thick, triangular, scabrid or almost glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheaths light reddish brown, densely woolly and with very long white hairs at the throat. Leaf blades reduced to ± 1 mm long, filiform, scabrid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of one central sessile spike and 2–5 stalked spikelets on 1–2.2 cm long stalks, the whole 4–6 cm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts reddish brown, glumaceous, densely woolly on the margin, with excurrent midrib to 2–3 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets ovoid, 8–12 mm long, 5 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reddish brown with green midrib, ovate, 3–4 mm long, closely overlapping, obtuse, minutely hairy but with long hairs on margins and densely woolly at apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 3-branched Style base reddish brown, usually forming a persistent knob.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets cream to pale brown, obovoid or rounded, distinctly 3-sided, 1.5 mm long, 1.4 mm wide, transversely wrinkled, the wrinkles often branching, vertical ribs smooth or slightly papillate.
Ecology
" Terminalia, Acacia, Euphorbia with shrub clumps of Grewia, Commiphora etc. and Cynometra, Brachylaena etc. coastal forest; 50–300 m
Distribution
Flora districts: K7 Range: Not known elsewhere
[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/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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