Cyperus amauropus Steud.

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, Mt Schoata, 12.vii.1838, Schimper 1391 (P holotype, K).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, fairly robust, succulent, up to 70 cm tall; base a cluster of slightly swollen pseudobulbs 4–5 cm long and 0.4–0.6 cm in diameter, adjacent to one another and forming a row; sometimes with 1–5 cm long stolons; culms tufted, 15–60 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, trigonous, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves many, basal, up to 40 cm long; leaf sheath uncoloured or pale brown, sometimes partly purplish, 3–8 cm long; leaf blade linear, often inrolled or folded, 16–34 cm long, 1.3–2.5 mm wide, scabrid on margin, apex acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts leaf-like, erect to spreading, 3–4, lowermost 3–15 cm long, 1.2–3 mm wide

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a simple anthela, sometimes very loosely capitate, primary branches 0–4, 0–3.7 cm long; spikelets in loose clusters, sessile and at the end of primary branches, 3–10 per cluster, spreading or reflexed, very narrowly ovate, 5.8–24 × 1.6–3.7 mm wide, rachilla straight; glumes pale to dark reddish-brown, ovate-oblong, 3.1–4.2 × 1.4–1.9 mm wide, keel green to reddish-brown, with 4–8 slender veins on either side, apex rounded to acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3; filaments 2.8–4.3 mm long; anthers 1.7–2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet brown, oblong-ellipsoid, trigonous, 1.6–2.1 × 0.5–0.8 mm wide, densely papillose.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe. Also in Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Ecology

Almost always in soil pockets and crevices of rocky (usually granite) hills, and rocky woodland; 850–1700 m.

Conservation

Least Concern because of its wide distribution.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Fairly robust succulent perennial with a short rhizome, and sometimes with 1–5 cm long stolons

Morphology Stem

Stems 15–60 cm long and 0.5–2 mm thick (but often thicker near the base when fresh), triangular, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 25 cm long and 1–4 mm wide, flat, scabrid at least on margin; sheaths numerous at the base and producing a cylindrical pseudobulb, pallid or pale brown, but sometimes partly purplish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spikes 1–2 x 1–3 cm, with 5–10 spreading or reflexed spikelets Inflorescence a 1–8 cm wide anthela consisting of several usually stalked short spikes, but the spikes may appear like digitate spikelet-clusters when consisting of 3–5 spikelets only; involucral bracts 2–5, leafy, erect or spreading, the largest 3–15 cm long and 1–3 mm wide; anthela of (1–)3–6 spikes on 0.2–4 cm long peduncles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 5–17 x 2–4 mm, linear-lanceolate, 8–18-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes 3–4 mm long, ovate-oblong, pale or dark reddish brown with 4–8 slender ribs on each side of the green or reddish brown midrib that is usually ending in the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style with 3 branches

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlet 1.6–1.8 x 0.5–0.7 mm, triangular, oblong-elliptic, brown and densely papillose.

Distribution

N1, 3; C1 northeastern and eastern Africa.

Ecology

Probably below 500 m.

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