Cyperus kyllingiella Larridon

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

A slender, tufted or shortly rhizomatous plant with swollen stem-bases covered by brownish fibres

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

The spherical white head is very similar to that of Cyperus pulchellus R. Br.

Ecology

Open woodland or savanna.

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

Type

Type: Ethiopia, Gon Ambra, Schimper 650 (P, holo.; BR, K!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, tufted, leafy

Morphology Stem

Stems 5–47 cm tall, 3-angled, 0.3–1.1 mm thick, glabrous; base swollen, conical or bulbous, covered in persistent coarse brown old leaf-base fibres

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–4 per stem, bright or dark green, ± half the stem length, flat or with margins inrolled, 3–22 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, margin and midrib with short spinelike hairs.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Sheath grey or brown, 1.4–3.5 cm long, without ligule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a dense terminal white head 3–10 mm in diameter, consisting of many tightly packed rounded pseudospikelets 2–4 mm long; pseudospikelets consisting of many 1flowered spikelets; pseudoglumes very closely packed, lanceolate, 1.2–1.7 × 0.4–0.6 mm, apex cucullate, obtuse and slightly bent, margin incurved Inflorescence bracts 2–4, spreading or recurved. Leaf-like, the longest 2–8 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth segments absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen 1(–2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filament white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers pale yellow, 0.5–0.7 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 2(–3)branched Style base persistent as small dark knob

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet pale yellowish grey turning to almost black, 0.5–1.1 × 0.3–0.4 mm, with minute tubercles in rows and a metallic shine.

Figures

Fig. 22, p130

Ecology

Within the woodland zone or bushland zone on moist sand or mud, or by swamps or on thin soil over rocks, also in grassy clearings within these zones; may be locally common; 400–1950 m

Note

Milne-Redhead & Taylor 8395 states the plant can be aromatic.

Distribution

Flora districts: U1 K1 K2 K3 K4T1 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 Range: Tropical Africa from Senegal to Sudan and Ethiopia and south to Congo-Kinshasa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana; India

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

Ethiopia, Gon Ambra, 20.vi.1840, Schimper 650 (P holotype, BR, G, K, S, WAG).

Morphology General Habit

Small tufted perennial, 5–20(30) cm tall, bases swollen, clothed in fibrous remains of leaf- sheaths; roots 0.3–0.4 mm wide

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 2–3, shorter than culm, c. 1 mm wide, scabrid apically, enrolled when dry

Morphology Culms

Culm 0.25–0.5 mm wide, terete

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence capitate, 5–10 mm wide with several ‘branchlets’ or pseudospikelets

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 3(5), longest 6–7 cm, spreading or recurved, leaf- like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes spiral, 1.2–1.4(1.7) mm long, boat-shaped, lanceolate, apex incurved, white, midrib thickened, flanked by 2–3 lateral veins, with a bisexual floret

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth 0

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen 1

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 3(2), style base persistent as small dark knob

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 0.6–0.7 × 0.3–0.4 mm, obovoid, subtrigonous, with short beak, minutely papillose, brown.

Distribution

Caprivi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in West Africa, Ethiopia, D.R. Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, Namibia and South Africa (Limpopo), and in India.

Ecology

In miombo and mopane woodland in damp sandy ground, on dambo margins, and open saline short grassland; 100–1900 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.