Bulbostylis decidua Prata & M.G. López

Prata, Ana Paula Do Nascimento, López, M. Gabriela & William Wayt Thomas, 2017, New species of Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) from South America, Phytotaxa 314 (2), pp. 219-230 : 223

2. Bulbostylis decidua Prata & M.G. López , sp. nov.

Type:— BRAZIL. Ceará: Cascavel, 10 km após a lagoa de Cascavel , 22 May 2000, R. Amado 260 (holotype EAC! , isotype SP! ). Figure 3 and 4 .

Bulbostylis decidua can be distinguished from other species of Bulbostylis by the deciduous stylopodium, the reduced leaf blades, and the tubercles on the achenes.

Cespitose annual, 23–35 cm tall, the base pale castaneous and not thickened. Leaves 1/6 the length of the scape, the sheaths 1.5–4.5 cm, membranaceous, slightly pilose, pale castaneous, longitudinally striate, oblique and ciliate apex, the cilia deciduous, the trichomes white, 0.2 cm long; blade reduced, 0.5–4 cm long. Scape 0.5 mm diam., ribbed, glabrous, canaliculate. Involucral bracts 1–3, leaflike, glabrous, the base dilated, the margins scabrous, the basal bract 0.5–1 cm long., not exceeding the inflorescence. Inflorescence 1.3–4 × 1–2 cm, anthelate, simple, 1–3 spikelets. Spikelets 8–10 × 3–4 mm, ovoid, pedicellate. Glumes deciduous, 2.3–2.5 × 2–2.3 mm, obovoid, navicular, coriaceous, pale castaneous medially, dorsally trinerved on the midvein, the apex acute, short mucronate, the mucro recurved, the surface papillose, the margins ciliate. Flowers with 3 stamens, the anthers 1 mm long., the style 1 mm long., trifid, the branches 0.5 mm long. Achene 1.3–1.5 × 1–1.3 mm, obovoid, cream, trigonous, the base attenuate, the angles thickened, surface transversely rugose, shiny, tubercles present, mainly near the angles, the stylopodium deciduous, 1/8 the length of the achene.

Habitat and distribution: —The species in known only from the type locality in the state of Ceara and from the municipality of São Gonçalo (S04°11.6’35”, W38°13.6’02”) in the state of Paraíba. Open savannas in sandy soil.

Paratypes: — BRAZIL. Paraíba: São Gonçalo, 17 March 1936, Luetzelburg 26937 ( NY) .

Notes:— The diagnostic characters that distinguish Bulbostylis decidua from other species of Bulbostylis are the deciduous stylopodium, the reduced leaf blades, and tubercles on the achenes. It can be distinguished from other species with a deciduous stylopodium ( B. emmerichiae ) by the characters listed in Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURE 3. A–G. Bulbostylis decidua Prata & M.G. López.A. Habit. B. Sheath Leaf. C. Inflorescence detail. D–E. Scale, D. Dorsal view. E. Lateral view F–G. Achene. (R. Amado 260, EAC).

FIGURE 4. Scanning electron microscope photographs of achenes of Bulbostylis. A–B. B. decidua Prata & M.G.López. A. Achene B. Achene surface detail. C–D. B. emmerichiae T.Koyama (R.C. Mendonça & D.Alvarenga 625, IBGE). C.Achene D.Achene surface detail. E–F. B. sellowiana (Kunth) Palla (Hassler 9429, G) E. Achene. F. Achene surface detail. (R. Amado 260, EAC).