Fuirena leptostachya Oliv.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120171536/120171540

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Uganda, West Nile Dist., Madi, xii.1862, Grant s.n. (K holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Annual-Culms 15–35 cm tall, 1–2 mm wide, trigonous-terete, densely hairy in parts or glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf sheath and ligule hairy, with long and short hairs; leaf blade suberect to spreading, 5–13 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, pubescent, 5–10 nerves at base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence sometimes terminal, usually paniculate, with 1–2(3) lateral branches each with several heads of numerous spikelets; inflorescence stems with long and short hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets squarrose, 4–7(10) × 1.3–2.3 mm (awns excluded), terete-ovoid, apex acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes not ranked, 1.5–2(3) mm long (including 0.5–0.8 mm awns), hispidulous with intermingled stiff bristles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet pale brown, 0.4–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm (including 0.1 mm style base), obovoid, smooth, triangular in cross-section (stipitate or substipitate and papillate near base in forma leptostachya).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments present. Perianth segments absent or present in 2 whorls; outer 3 segments present as small retrorsely scabrid bristles in forma leptostachya, inner 3 segments with smooth claw and crescent-shaped blade, lacking nerves, upper margin with small apiculum

Distribution

Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa, in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and in South Africa (Gauteng).

Ecology

Seasonally wet margins of dams and rivers and a weed of disturbed areas; 1000–1500 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.

Recognition

Forma leptostachya has similarly shaped inner perianth segments to F. sagittata, but those in forma leptostachya are smaller, as is the nutlet. In addition, forma leptostachya only has 2 stamens per floret whereas F. sagittata has 3.

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

Diagnostic

Hairy annual similar to the preceding species (Fuirena ciliaris), but with smaller spikelets and a very small lamina to the inner hypogynous bristles which may be partially or entirely wanting

Ecology

Rice fields and other damp places, uncommon.

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

Type

Type: Uganda, West Nile District: Madi, Grant s.n. (K!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Slender annual.

Morphology Culms

Culm terete, 7–43 cm tall, 1–2 mm in diameter, but ± 3 mm in diameter across the sheath, densely pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-sheath and ligule hairy; blade 6–16 × 0.3–0.7 cm, densely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence an irregular terminal cluster of spikelets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 4–12 × 2–4 mm, terete, many-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 1.6–2 mm long, including a 0.5–0.7 mm long mucro, with short and long hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments absent or 6, in 2 whorls, outer 3 segments represented by smooth bristles, inner 3 segments have smooth stalk ending in a crescent-shaped lamina without distinct veins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet pale brown, 0.4–0.6 × 0.3–0.4 mm, including style-base up to 0.1 mm long, base obtuse; surface concave and smooth.