Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis microcarpa (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 NE. Tanzania. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Cyperaceae, K Hoenselaar, B. Verdcourt & H. Beentje. Hypolytrum, D Simpson. Fuirena, M Muasya. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2010

Type
Type: Tanzania, Lushoto District: 4 km W of Mkomazi, 30 m from Pangani R.*, Wingfield 1921 (EA, holo.; K!, iso.) * Haines & Lye have put 50 km from Pangani River, but the field notes say 30 m: metres not miles.
Morphology General Habit
Tufted annual 5–20 tall.
Morphology Stem
Stems 2–4 mm thick with prominent ridges, strongly scabrid
Morphology Leaves
Leaves dense, many, filiform, 1–10 cm long, scabrid.
Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths
Sheaths scabrid and with long hairs at the mouth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1.5–3 cm wide, of 1 sessile and 1–3 pedunculate spikelets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts glumaceous with long flexuous hairs along the margin and a green scabrid awn up to 8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets ovoid, 4–6 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, often with spreading glumes, 10–20-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes chestnut-red with paler margins and midrib, ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, glabrous save along margins; midrib usually just meeting the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets whitish or grey, obovoid, 3-angular, 0.4–0.5 mm long, transversely wrinkled, with elongate ± sinuous cells, but ribs with shorter cells sometimes wider than long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style-base persistent, dark.
Ecology
Saline grassland with bushes on ± bare sandy soil; 400–600 m
Distribution
Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: T3
[FTEA]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/179730/1588274

Conservation
CR - critically 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]

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