Bulbostylis rhizomatosa (Lye) R.W.Haines

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

Type

Type: CongoKinshasa, Shaba [Katanga], Schmitz s.n. (BR, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Slender perennial 20–50 cm tall with solitary stem or 2–3 well-spaced stems from a horizontal rhizome 2–5 cm long, 3–4 mm thick, covered with blackish acuminate scales.

Morphology Stem

Stems 0.7–1.3 mm thick, triangular, scabrid or almost glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades 1–18 cm long, 0.7–1.5 mm wide, densely scabrid on the margin.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Sheaths green to pale reddish brown, minutely scabrid and throat with long white or reddish brown hairs 5–10 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 1–4 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, of one sessile and 2–4 stalked spikelets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peducles 0.5–3 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts reddish brown and scale-like, 5–10 mm long with green excurrent midrib.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets ovoid, 5–10-flowered, 4–9 mm long, 2–3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes reddish brown including midrib, 4–5 mm long with long marginal hairs but otherwise minutely scabrid or almost glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen 1

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet dark reddish brown, broadly ovoid, triangular, 1.7–1.9 mm long, 1.6–1.8 mm wide, with longitudinal ribs, transversely wrinkled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style base dark, persistent. Style 3-branched

Ecology

Brachystegia woodland

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

D.R. Congo, Katanga, 1952, Schmitz s.n. (BR holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; rhizome elongated, horizontal, conspicuous, c. 3 mm wide when dry, fleshy and soft when live, covered in dark acuminate scales

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheath mouth sloping, orifice hairs 5–7 mm long, light reddish-brown; leaf blades 120–200 × 1–1.5 mm wide, margins scabid

Morphology Culms

Culms isolated, glabrous, triangular, 20–70 cm high by c. 1 mm thick

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence an anthela, one sessile and 2–4 stalked spikelets, or reduced to a single spikelet; bracts 5–7 mm long, glume-like basally

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4–10 × 2–3 mm, ovoid, 5–12 flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 4–5 mm long, reddish-brown, flanks glabrous to finely scabrid, long marginal hairs may be present, midnerve pronounced ending before the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 3-branched, base dark, persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1.8 × 1.3 mm, broadly obovoid, trigonous, transversely rugose, light brown to darker at maturity.

Distribution

Zambia, Malawi. Also from southern D.R. Congo and Tanzania.

Ecology

In open dry Brachystegia woodland; 1300–2100 m.

Conservation

Not widespread, maybe infrequently collected; possibly threatened.