Cyperus mindorensis (Steud.) Huygh

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 300–2660 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Cundinamarca.

Habit

Herb.

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

no type indicated (see note); lectotype t.65 in J.R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen. Pl. (iconotype).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial to 30 cm tall; stolons fleshy (called rhizomes by Napper), 1–10 cm long, 2 mm across, white and fragrant when fresh, with pink-brown scales and thin roots

Morphology Culms

Culms rather spaced along rhizome, sometimes dense, 8–24 cm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, triangular, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves to 21 cm long; leaf sheath pale to mid-brown, 1–6 cm long; leaf blade dark green, linear, flat, 10–21 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, scabrid on margins and midrib

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leaf-like, spreading or reflexed, 3–4, lowermost 8–18 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a globose or ovoid sessile head of a single spike (rarely with 1–2 smaller spikes) 3–8 mm across; spikelets many, narrowly ovoid, 2–2.5 (Getliffe says to 5 mm) × 0.6–1 mm, 1–2-flowered, sometimes viviparous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes whitish, fading to pale red-brown, 2–2.5 mm long, keel winged (sometimes not very prominent), with minute teeth, apex acuminate, 2–4 veins each side of midrib

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1, red- brown turning black, oblong, 1–1.3 × 0.7–0.9 mm, minutely papillose.

Distribution

Malawi, Mozambique. Guinée to Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, D.R. Congo and South Africa; also in Madagascar, Indian Ocean Is., India, Sri Lanka and SE Asia.

Ecology

No habitat indicated, but elsewhere in forest with open canopy or in forest clearings; c. 50 m.

Conservation

Widespread outside the Flora area; not threatened. Least Concern in F.T.E.A. (2010).

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/177219/7392726

Conservation

LC - least concern

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 300 - 2660 m.; Andes.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

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

Conservation

Least concern (LC), though uncommon in our area

Note

Haines & Lye cite both Kyllinga nemoralis and Kyllinga monocephala Rottb. as synonyms of their Cyperus kyllingia Endl.; the latter name dates from 1842 and so has no priority. The second one, however, dates back to 1773: K. monocephala Rottb., Descr. Icon. Pl.: 13, t. 4 fig. 4 (1773); L. f., Suppl. Pl.: 104 (1781); P.O.A. C: 123 (1895); C.B. Clarke in F.T.A. 8: 272 “excl. certain syns.” (1902). No type mentioned; referring to several pre-Linnean names. The plate should probably be the type. I am uncertain about which name should be used, but here follow Napper; there are no fewer than six other taxa named K. monocephala, though the Rottbøll name is the oldest. The Forsters’ protologue has no details about the species at all, no specimen or origin mentioned, no description – but the name is validated by the ‘descriptio generico-specifica” (Code, art. 42.1) as the genus Thryocephalon is described by the Forsters, and nemorale is the only species therein. I have therefore chosen the plate as the type. Cited by Kükenthal for T 6 (Uluguru, Stuhlmann 8889) but I have not seen any specimens from there (including at B).

Type

Type: no type indicated (see Note); lectotype: J.R. & G. Forster, Char. Gen. Pl.: t. 65 (iconotype)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, up to 30 cm tall, with branching horizontal rhizome.

Morphology Culms

Culms rather spaced along rhizome, or sometimes dense, 8–24 cm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, triangular, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blade dark green, linear, flat, 10–21 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, scabrid on margins and midrib Leaf sheath pale to mid-brown, 1–6 cm long. Leaves up to 21 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leaf-like, spreading or reflexed, 3–4, lowermost 8–18 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a globose or ovoid sessile head of a single spike (rarely with 1–2 smaller spikes) 3–8 mm across.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets many, narrowly ovoid, 2–2.5 mm long, 0.6–1 mm wide, 1–2-flowered.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes whitish, fading to pale redbrown, 2–2.5 mm long, keel winged (sometimes not very prominent) with minute teeth, apex acuminate; 2–4 veins on each side of midrib

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet black, oblong and flattened, 1–1.3 mm long, 0.7–0.9 mm wide, minutely papillose.

Ecology

Forest where canopy is opened, forest clearings; 450–1200 m

Distribution

Flora districts: U2 U3 U4 T1 T3 T ?6 (see note) Range: West Africa, Congo-Kinshasa, Mozambique; Madagascar, Indian Ocean Islands, India, Sri Lanka and SE Asia

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

Morphology General Habit

Rhizome slender, creeping, bearing stems at intervals

Morphology Leaves

Bracts and leaves long, flaccid, nut black

Ecology

A weed of secondary forest and disturbed habitats.