Bulbostylis Kunth (Kunth 1837: 205)

Rasaminirina, Fitiavana & Larridon, Isabel, 2023, The genera of Cyperaceae of Madagascar, Plant Ecology and Evolution 156 (3), pp. 276-310 : 276

1. Bulbostylis Kunth (Kunth 1837: 205) nom. cons.

Type species.

Scirpus capillaris L. [= Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex C.B.Clarke]

Description of the genus.

Small to medium-sized annuals or tufted perennials, rarely with an elongated rhizome, rarely forming a caudex; rhizome woody, variable, usually compact with swollen confluent shoot bases, occasionally elongate in uniseriate or multiseriate rows, less often of uniform thickness throughout. Culms scapose, terete, ridged and furrowed, glabrous to pilose or densely velutinous apically. Leaves eligulate (rarely ligulate), but with two lateral tufts of long white hairs at the sheath mouth, rarely reduced to a sheath. Primary bracts short, not sheathing, rarely the lowermost bract leaf-like and erect. Inflorescence terminal, rarely pseudolateral, anthelate or capitate. Spikelets few to many, or reduced to a single spikelet, often with many densely spirally arranged (rarely distichous), deciduous glumes, each subtending a floret. Florets bisexual. Perianth bristles absent. Stamens 1-3, anthers generally oblongs or linear, often acute, rarely setiferous. Style (2-)3-fid, base distinct, thickened, persistent, rarely only slightly thickened or deciduous. Nutlets obovoid to obpyriform, rounded trigonous, rarely dorsiventrally lenticular, surface with various ornamentations, rarely smooth.

Distribution and ecology.

Bulbostylis is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics to Central Asia ( POWO 2022). It grows in grasslands and woodlands, along roadsides and among rocks. In Madagascar, Bulbostylis is known from the northwest, the Central Highlands, and the southwest. This genus is currently being monographed (Rasaminirina et al. unpubl. data), and ca 25 species are currently known to occur in Madagascar including e.g. Bulbostylis itremoensis Lye ex Rasam. (Fig. 8B ) and Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl) R.W.Haines (Fig. 14 ).

Figures

Figure 8. A. Scleria distans. B. Bulbostylis itremoensis. C. Fuirena pubescens (pale green) and Schoenoplectiella corymbosa (dark green). All photos by Fitiavana Rasaminirina.

Figure 14. Bulbostylis hispidula. A. Habit. B. Glume. C. Nutlet. D. Spikelet. E. Mouth of leaf sheath. F. Young nutlet with style. All from Ward 610. Scale bars: A = 40 mm; B, C = 5 mm; D-F = 0.5 mm. Drawn by Jane Browning, reproduced with permission from the artist, originally published in Gordon-Gray (1995).