Cyperaceae
Bulbostylis

Bulbostylis densiflora (Lye) Lye

First published in Nordic J. Bot. 28: 516 (2010)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is N. Zambia. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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]

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
Zambia, Kawambwa Dist., Kawambwa, Timnatushi Falls, 19.iv.1957, Richards 9339 (K holotype, NU).
Morphology General Habit
Tufted slender annual, 15–25 cm tall
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ± 1/3 culm height; leaf sheath straw-coloured, mouth with few obvious fine hairs; leaf blades filiform, 20–60 × 0.3 mm, canaliculated, glabrous, apex obtuse
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a solitary spikelet; leafy involucral bracts replaced by glume-like bracts, often persistent when glumes shed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelet 6–8 × 3 mm, ovate, cylindrical, apex obtuse
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes spiral, 30–60 closely packed, 2–3 × 1–1.6 mm, concave, glabrous, margin sparsely ciliated, light chestnut brown, midrib (incompletely 3 nerved) ending below rounded fimbriated apex, that may appear emarginate with wear
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, anthers c. 0.4 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style glabrous, twisted, dark brown, c. 1 mm, style base persistent on nutlet, branches 3 ± half style length
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlet 0.5 × 0.4 mm, obovoid, yellowish-white when young, dark grey at maturity, surface transversely wavy, papillae present on waves and nutlet angles.
Distribution
Zambia.
Ecology
Wet, white sandy soil among rocks; 1260 m.
Conservation
Apparently endemic to a small area of NE Zambia; possibly Vulnerable.
Recognition
Lye (1983) noted that “this species is not closely related to any other species [of Bulbostylis]. Its annual habit with solitary very dense-flowered spikelet is somewhat similar to Nemum spadiceum Lam.”
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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 2024. 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