Cyperus intactus Vahl

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, Miss S. S. Hooper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Similar to 19b (Pycreus polystachyos var. laxiflorus) but more robust

Ecology

In similar habitats but less widespread.

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

Senegal, Ngalam (Galam), n.d., unknown collector no.17 (C-Vahl holotype, P-JU); see note.

Morphology General Habit

A single stemmed or tufted annual or perennial, sometimes with swollen culm bases; culms 1–10, erect, to 60(90) cm long and 0.5–2.5(3) mm wide, rounded to triangular, striate, smooth, older leaf bases not fibrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves basal, sheaths to 6(10) cm long, brown; blade flat (often wilting at time of flowering and appearing rolled or filiform), to 40(50) cm long and 1.5–5 mm wide, scabrid in apical part

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a simple umbel-like anthela (rarely a compound anthela), sometimes appearing subcapitate, 2–12 × 2–15 cm, of 1–5 sessile and 2–10 stalked racemose clusters (sessile clusters sometimes with short lateral branches), each cluster with 10– 20 loosely arranged spikelets; peduncles of stalked clusters 0.2–6(10) cm long; involucral bracts leaf like, (1)2–5, largest 5–25(30) cm long and 1–3(4) mm wide, scabrid in apical part

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 5–20 × 1–2 mm, linear-lanceolate; rachis becoming zig-zag in fruiting stage; glumes appressed to spreading, falling at maturity, only slightly (25–50 %) overlapping, pale yellowish green to greyish green or olive green to yellowish brown or brown, elliptic to slightly obovate, without hyaline margin, narrowing in basal part, 1.5–3 × 1–1.5 mm, acute to obtuse with hyaline tip, keel brown, 3-veined

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens (2)3; filaments 1 mm long; anthers 1 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma branches 2, 1.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet ovate to oblong, obtuse at apex, shortly apiculate, dark steel grey to black, 1–1.5 mm long, with numerous minute papillae in longitudinal rows.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in Guinée, Senegal, Tanzania, South Africa and Madagascar.

Ecology

Grassland on sandy soils, dambo grassland, roadsides, pans on rocky outcrops, hot springs, montane grassland, a weed in ricefields; 50–1700(2000) m.

Conservation

Widespread distribution; Least Concern. In common and widespread habitats; tolerates a certain amount of habitat disturbance.

Note

Annual or perennial forms of this species seem to occur throughout its distribution, although perennial forms seem to be more common in the northern parts. No differences have been found in the spikelets, glumes and nutlets. It is superficially also quite similar to Pycreus macrostachyos but without the conspicuous white hyaline bract margin of that species.

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

Type

Type: Mozambique, Dondo near Beira, Schlechter 12254 (B, BR, PRE, syn.) & Tanzania, without locality, Busse 749 (B, syn.)

Morphology General Habit

Robust perennial up to 90 cm high, with thick, somewhat bulbous stem-bases surrounded by the fibrous remains of old sheaths, sometimes a short rhizome present.

Morphology Culms

Culms tufted, 30–80 cm long, 1–2.3 mm wide, trigonous, smooth

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blade linear, plicate, 12–40 cm long, 2–3.8 mm wide, acuminate, apex scabrid Leaves many, crowded near the base of the culm, up to 45 cm long. Leaf sheath pale green to brown, 2–6 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leaf-like, spreading, the lowermost 13–29 cm long, 2.4–4.2 mm wide, scabrid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence simple to compound, primary branches 3–9, 1–10 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets up to 30 per cluster, linear, 8–18(–25) mm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, axis straight, sometimes slightly curved. Spikelets in loose clusters on elongated axis at the end of primary or secondary branches.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes golden yellow, turning olive green in patches, elliptic, 1.7–2.3 mm long, 0.8–1.1 mm wide, keel rounded, 3-veined, green, apex obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments ± 1.1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 0.8–1.2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma 2-branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet black, narrowly ellipsoid-obovoid, 1.2 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, minutely papillose

Ecology

Seasonally wet grasslands and river-sides; 300–1050 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC) due to distribution and habitat.

Note

This species has similarities with P. polystachyos var. laxiflorus, but P. atribulbus is more robust, with often fibrous remains of old sheaths surrounding its base, which P. polystachyos var. laxiflorus misses.

Distribution

Range: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa Flora districts: T3 T6 T8

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120157437/120157457

Conservation

LC - least concern