Bulbostylis boeckeleriana (Schweinf.) Beetle

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

Eritrea, below summit of Lalamba, near Keren, 12.iii.1891, Schweinfurth 837 (K syntype); Eritrea, Mt Oualid, N of Mt Bizen, 10.v.1892, Schweinfurth & Riva 1873 (FT syntype); Mt Bizen, n.d., Schweinfurth & Riva 1851 (G lectotype), lectotypified by Lye.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial up to 80 cm tall; rhizome woody of slightly swollen shoot bases confluent irregularly, or in bi-or multi-seriate rows, up to 70 × 7–9 mm, clothed in imbricate scale leaves, occasionally upper scales bearded with white hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves variable, usually up to 1/3 culm length, occasionally obsolete; leaf sheath mouths sloping, conspicuously white fringed (except when growing in lush conditions), ligule 0; leaf blades 4–280 × 0.3–1 mm, linear to setaceous, glabrous to densely pilose

Morphology Culms

Culms stout, terete, ridged and furrowed, white pubescent below inflorescence, otherwise glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence variable, usually a hemispherical terminal head of up to 16 spikelets, often (0)2–4 pedicels carrying additional heads, occasionally reduced to single spikelet (all forms can be represented in a clone); bracts 2(3), usually shorter than inflorescence, with few to many long white hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 7–12 × 2–4 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes spiral, 4–6 × 2.4–4 mm, golden brown, white pubescent below, margin ciliate, apex obtuse or minutely muronate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 2.1–3.7 mm long, 3-angled, glabrous, 3-branched 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet (including style-base) 1.7–1.9 × 1.1–1.2 mm, obovoid, trigonous, crowned by persistent pyramidal base, surface transversely wavy and faintly lineate, ridged, outermost cells longitudinally oblong.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga).

Ecology

Dry open grassland, damp Brachystegia woodland and shallow soil over rock outcrops; 600–1800 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.

Note

In East Africa Bulbostylis boeckeleriana appears to be well-represented, while for the Flora area few collections have been seen. It would appear that the closely affiliated B. igneotonsa is more frequent.

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

Type

Type: Eritrea, Mt Bizen, Schweinfurth & Riva 1851 (G, lecto., chosen by Lye)

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial (15–)20–70 cm tall with a short creeping rhizome.

Morphology Stem

Stems densely crowded, 0.6–1 mm wide, ridged, glabrous save for some short spike-like hairs beneath the inflorescence

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–15 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, flat or channelled, glabrous or with a few spine-like hairs.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Sheaths pale brown, glabrous save for the long flexuous hairs at the throat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of 2–12 spikelets either sessile and capitate or 1–3 additional stalked inflorescences, sometimes of only 1 spikelet.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 6–10 mm long, 2–4 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes reddish brown with green midrib, 4–6 mm long, acute or subulate, pubescent or with ciliate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets pale brown, obovoid, triangular, 1.3–1.6 mm long, ± 1 mm wide, transversely wrinkled with densely set longitudinal white lines crossing the wrinkles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style base dark 0.2 mm long, persistent

Figures

Fig. 12, p74

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

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

Type

Type: Tanzania, Tanga District: E Usambaras, Bombwera, Holst 2199 (B†, holo.; K!, iso.)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences laxer, typically with a single sessile spikelet surrounded by 1–5 stalked spikelets on peduncles 0.5–1.5 cm long, but usually with several spikelets in each element.

Ecology

Grassland and open bushland, often in rocky places but also in damp depressions, Brachystegia woodland; 100–1700 m

Note

By extending the definition of the variety I have called practically anything with a less robust branched inflorescence var. transiens and anything with a robust spherical head var. boeckeleriana; but many intermediates occur. There seems to be some geographical influence with eastern areas having predominantly more specimens with branched inflorescences; but there are many intermediates and it may prove best not to recognise varieties. Gordon-Gray has noted on the Kew isotype of var. transiens that it is the same species as Gerrard 698 and Buchanan 337 from Natal, which she has annotated as B. boeckelerianus. Despite the fact she states such variants (as transiens) are not known for Natal they do occur.

Distribution

Flora districts: U3 K 4/ K6 K7 T2 T3 T6 T7 T8 Range: Mozambique, South Africa