2. Cyperaceae

Introductory remarks: systematics and nomenclature in some groups of Cyperaceae became the subject of many changes. It concerns e.g. the genre Bulbostylis, designated now as Abildgaardia. Ŀe new approaches considered below are taken into account a er R.W. Heines and K.A. Lye (1983). Ŀe relevant volume of Flora Zambesiaca has not yet been published until the present work. Regarding their scarce occurrence, Cyperaceae are not included in phytosociological tables, except for one publication about them in Zambia: Medwecka-Kornaś, Kornaś (1985).

Abildgaardia lamentosa (Vahl) K. Lye var. lamentosa = Bulbostylis lamentosa (Vahl.) C. B. Cl. Tu ed perennial, tu s small up to 2 cm in diameter, stems 40–55 cm tall with tunic of old leaves and re traces observed at the bases. Spikelets in February and March (or April). Ŀin roots up to 5–7 cm long. Hemicryptophyte/geophyte? Plot 1, rec. 3, 4., Plot 2, rec. 2’; Haines, Lye (1983): A fairly robust perennial with crowded culms from a short rhizome (rhizome not observed by the present author). Culms 20–70 cm long (…).

Abildgaardia hispidula (Vahl.) K. Lye subsp. brachyphylla (Cherm.) K. Lye. = Bulbostylis hispidula (Vahl.) R. Haines subsp. brachyphylla (Cherm.) R. Haines = Fimbristylis hispidula (Vahl.) Kunth subsp. brachyphylla (Cherm) Napper. Perennial tu ed, tu s about 3 cm in diameter, stems up to 30 (40) cm tall with tunic of old leaves at the bases. Spikelets from November to January; clusters of roots up to ca 14 cm long. Hemicryptophyte. Plot 2. rec. 3’, 4’, Fig. 10a – Appendix 2; Haines, Lye (1983): A robust tussocky perennial (…). Culms 10–50 cm long (…).

Abildgaardia cfr. macra (Ridley) K. Lye. = Bulbostylis cfr. macra (Ridley) C.B. Cl. Perennial, caespitose – mostly old leaves clusters 1.5–2.5 cm broad, stems up to 30–35 cm high, thickened at the base into narrow bulbs about 0.5–1 cm in diameter. Burned lower parts of the leaves were observed. Spikelets noticed in January. Clumps of thin roots up to 4–8 cm long. Hemicryptophyte. Plot 1, rec. 6, plot 2, rec. 4’, Fig. 10b – Appendix 2; Haines, Lye (1983): Culms 5–35 cm long (…).

Cyperus ciliato-pilosus Mattf and Kük. = Kyllinga platyphylla K. Schum. Perennial, relatively robust plant, stems up to 30–35 cm high, some occurring by ones, but mostly densely caespitose plants (tu s of brous coated stem bases up to 7 cm in diameter). Spikelets in December and January. Traces of re were found near soil surface, dense system of roots was 4–5 cm long. Hemicryptophyte. Plot 2, rec. 4’, Fig. 10c – Appendix 2; Haines, Lye (1983): A densely tu ed perennial 15–50 cm tall (…) stolons absent.

Cyperus margaritaceous Vahl. var. nduru (Cherm.) Kük. Basionym = C. nduru Cherm. Perennial, culms 20–40 cm high, their bases covered by remnants of old leaves were found with traces of re and swollen into small bulbs 0.5–1 cm large, grouped in series by 3–4 on small rhizomes. Dry specimens at the end of August, the young ones at the end of November, buds, owers, beginning of fruits and later fruits from November to January. Roots up to 8 cm long. Hemicryptophyte or shallow geophyte? Tab. 3 – Appendix 1; Fl. W Trop. Afr.: Tu ed plant with contiguous stem bases thickened by numerous leaf-sheaths (…); Haines, Lye (1983): A fairly robust perennial (…). In recently burnt grassland and open woodland (…).

Kyllingiella microcephala (Steudel) R. Haines and K. Lye. = Scirpus microcephalus (Steud.) Dandy. Perennial, small, mostly tu ed plant, stems 5–14 cm high, their bases were covered by remnants of old leaves (partly burned o) and swollen into small bulbs up to 0.5 cm in diameter, bulbs by ones or in groups. Spikelets in November to January; thin roots 3–4 cm long. Hemicryptophyte. Plot 1, rec. 6, Fig. 10d – Appendix 2; Fl. W Trop. Afr.: A slender, tu ed or shortly rhizomatous plant with swollen stem bases covered by brownish bres (…); Haines, Lye (1983): stems 5–40 cm long.

Scleria bulbifera A. Rich. Perennial, culms relatively tall, up to 50–60 cm high, occurring in clusters, or in rows on creeping rhizomes, small bulbs 0,5– 1 cm in diameter mostly in series, with short roots. Spikelets in December and January, some their remnants in February. Hemicryptophyte. Plot 1, rec. 6; Fl. W Trop. Afr.: Polymorphic rhizomatous perennial with swollen culm-bases (…); Haines, Lye (1983): A perennial with crowded stems on a creeping rhizome, or with somewhat distant stems arising from 1–5 cm long stolons. Stems 30–70 cm long (…).